SCK CEN Nature walk
Welcome to the SCK CEN site!
With more than 370 hectares, the SCK CEN site can easily be called large! In addition to the company site, there is also the forest, the grassland in the valley and the golf course. Each land has its own unique location, history and green particularities. You can discover these for yourself, because most of it is open to the public. So put on those walking shoes for our magnificent nature walk!
Nature is also about people
Why does SCK CEN consider nature so important? Because biodiversity and landscape preservation benefit the health of our region. A green environment that is responsibly cared for contributes to the well-being of our staff members and our neighbours. Nature is also about people. Experience it for yourself during our nature walks.
(Re)discover our rich nature! Enjoy the forest, grasslands, moorland and sandy soils. Welcome to SCK CEN's green land!
What can I expect?
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Colourful insects
The grayling butterfly, strawberry spider, grey-backed mining bee, antlion and megarhyssa – which hunts for wasp larvae in the bark of birch trees with its long stinger – are flourishing in our nature.
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Campine birds
The common redstart breeds and chattering siskins hunt for food on the alder-cones here.
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Rare plants
In the spring, May lilies are in bloom, which are a plant that is only found in very old forests – i.e. forests that have existed uninterrupted since 1780. As things warm up, other rare spring flowers appear here and there: the spotted orchid, greater yellow-rattle and marsh gentian.
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Scottish Highlanders
We use Scottish Highlanders to keep the vegetation in check. These horned cattle ensure the grassland is naturally grazed, giving the spring flowers the chance to show themselves off.
Practical information
Winter 2022: SCK CEN forests are being thinned out
The thinning operations will begin in early 2023. During that period, parts of the forest will not be accessible. Not to worry, you can still enjoy our nature walk! Would you like to know why we will be thinning out the forest and what we want to achieve by doing so? Then click ahead now!
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5,2 km
Departure and arrival
Departure point: Boeretang 11, 2400 Mol, Belgium
Free parking: yesSignage
Start at walking junction 56.
Then follow junctions 55, 63, 69, 67, 68, 70, 72, 71, 56. -
10,3 km
Departure and arrival
Departure point: Boeretang 11, 2400 Mol, Belgium
Free parking: yesSignage
Start at walking junction 56.
Then follow junctions 55, 63, 69, 65, 64, 62, 22, 78, 66, 59, 54, 84, 85, 82, 81, 80, 79, 78, 67, 68, 70, 72, 71, 56.
From forest and grasslands to sandy soils and the heathland
Doing great things with the atom as the smallest particle? That is our challenge. And every day we do this in the middle of a beautiful setting: the Mol nature that stretches all across the SCK CEN sites. But we do want to turn that nature into so much more.
How? By not choosing tightly landscaped limits, but rather ‘wild’ grasslands, heaths and forests that characterise our region. By investing to the maximum in nature around, on and in our new buildings. By working together with surrounding neighbourhood businesses on the same nature goals. And by making fauna and flora, such as the rare grayling butterfly, feel more at home than ever thanks to good maintenance, the right green investments and a sustainable vision for the future.