Board A

Heuvelsche Ponds

Heuvelsche Ponds is a small, tranquil enclosed area in the municipality of Waalre, surrounded by fields, meadows, and grasslands. It is part of the Dommel river valley. Along with the Kempense Ponds (also known as the Philips fishing ponds) and the Dommel Meadows, it forms an attractive area for numerous plant and animal species. There are hedgerows, ponds, reed marshes, moist old deciduous forests, young deciduous tree plantations, and two old peat pits. The north side of the area borders the lowland stream Dommel, which flows from Belgium towards Eindhoven.

There are 61 species of breeding birds in the area, including ten special species. The following mammals also inhabit the area: roe deer, hare, rabbit, and hedgehog. Additionally, various beaver traces have been found. Other examples of plant and animal species that thrive here include the ragged robin, yellowhammer, and field cricket.

Ragged Robin

The ragged robin is a resident of wet and nutrient-poor hayfields. Along with buttercups, sorrel, and cow parsley, ragged robins create a beautiful palette of colors. A visual delight and a treat for various types of insects.

Yellowhammer

The yellowhammer is a bird that prefers fields, meadows, and thickets. A bit open, a bit closed. A little wet, a little dry. Hedges, hedgerows, and shrubs. Just like the Dommel valley looks here. The yellowhammer looks for a high spot to sing and a low spot with vegetation to breed in. It prefers a buffet of grains, grasses, wild plants, and insects during the breeding season. In the winter, it enjoys eating seeds.

Field Cricket

The field cricket is known for its loud chirping. We can also hear this large black cricket in the Dommel valley. Its summer chirping evokes memories of sultry summer evenings under the southern sun. The cricket lives in a self-made burrow. The spot for the burrow is neatly nibbled away to form a tidy lawn. Here, the male cricket serenades the female cricket day and night.

The Dommel Drinkable in 2053

The Dommel is one of the most beautiful streams in our country. Rivers and streams are ancient living systems. Everything that happens on the land affects the health of our rivers and streams, which, in turn, affects our health. That's why we constantly keep in mind: does our actions serve the water quality, soil, biodiversity, and landscape of the Dommel valley? In doing so, we strengthen our living environment and the identity and culture of the Dommel valley.

An important goal is to have drinkable Dommel water within one generation. A clean and healthy Dommel means drinkable river water and a rich and diverse wildlife and plant life. It also has healthy soil and a beautiful (cultural) landscape that you can enjoy and relax in. That's why we are taking steps together towards a drinkable Dommel by 2053.

Without the Dommel, there is no drinkable Maas

We understand that the Dommel does not flow in isolation but is part of a larger system of rivers in the Maas river basin. With every step we take towards a drinkable Dommel, we not only care for our own environment and health but also contribute to the health of the entire river basin, the sea, and the world.