2023-11-24 19:00:00
As part of LEADER Reconnected Mergellandscha (a) p, the project which aims to bring together farmers and citizens, Natuurpunt organized a rather special event: a transhumance, i.e. a movement of livestock from summer pastures to summer pastures. ‘winter.
Friday morning, 250 sheep set off from the Saint-Pierre mountain, in the town of Visé, to reach, in two days, Fourons, in the province of Limburg, in Flanders. At the bottom of the mountain, the herd has joined its young, now grown up, so that, together, they can reach Flemish lands.
This phenomenon, once typical of Mergelland, a region in southern Limburg, had disappeared for many years. “It’s a new tradition that we want to establish,” explains Gabriel Erens, from Natuurpunt, a nature protection association. “Above all, we want this event to be a celebration, a way to meet and exchange,” he adds.
A good point for the environment
And it seems that the party was there. Despite the gloomy weather, around twenty motivated people accompanied Bart, his two dogs and his flock for a short 13 kilometer journey to Moelingen, where they will spend the night with a friendly local resident. The latter, in addition to lending them his garden to pitch the walkers’ tents, organizes a barbecue for them.
The sheep will join Fourons on Saturday. ©MICHEL TONNEAU
Saturday morning, they will leave for 8 kilometers, to Fourons, where the herd will spend happy days until spring, when they return to Lanaye. Here, in fact, it is not a question of using sheep for their meat, but for their wool and, above all, for their positive impact on the environment.
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The goal is to create a nature path.
“Animals, as they walk, attract seeds in their wool and on their hooves, which they sow as they progress,” confides Anne Lefevre, in charge of the LEADER project. “The aim is therefore mainly to create a nature path between Lanaye and Fourons, which are mainly separated by factories and industrial activity,” she explains.
A friendly moment between nature lovers and farmers, to create a link between citizens who do not know each other and, above all, to link two regions with exceptional natural heritage.
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