Six tips for adventure in the Grintenbosch

Lovely to take a 'Oerrr-break'. The entrance to the forest is on the Geukerdijk and from there you can take a lovely stroll. A nice forest for small children because it is nice and clear. Moreover, there is plenty to do in the Grintenbosch.

With the following six tips, Natuurmonumenten will gladly help you on your way.

Tip 1: Search for gnomes

Usually there is a lot of activity in the mornings in spring and fall. Elementary schools then have their education programs in the forest. With these projects cancelled, the gnomes of the gnome trail and the animals of the animal trail are also in lock down. But the gnome posts are still in the forest. Who can find the gnome posts?

Tip 2: Spot a squirrel and a squirrel's nest

The wooden house in the forest is called 'de Kateaker', which is the Twente name for squirrel. And with a little luck you'll spot a squirrel here. They are hibernating now but every now and then they wake up and go looking for a meal. They have to get out of bed for a while to do that because squirrels have multiple nests: one to sleep in, one to shelter in, one for the food supply and one to have their young in. A squirrel climbs the tree at lightning speed and when you see him he hides on the back of the trunk. He is playing hide and seek! Can you hide as well as a squirrel?

Tip 3: The groundwater meter

You've probably seen the groundwater gauge. It seems complicated, but it's not so bad. Inside the tube is a rod that floats on the groundwater. If the groundwater in the soil under your feet is high you'll see the color green indicated. When groundwater is low it is yellow or red. Unfortunately, this has been the case the last few summers. Is the groundwater gauge green or red?

Tip 4: Spot a woodpecker

Be very quiet..... Do you hear tapping? It's probably a woodpecker. A woodpecker is hammering against the tree trunk with its beak. Looking for critters under the bark to eat or to make a cavity to lay its eggs in in the spring. Across from the groundwater gauge is a tree with lots of woodpecker holes. Count the woodpecker holes!!!

Tip 5: Insect hotels

There are insect hotels in the meadow. Together with the children of Kindergarten Blossom, these hotels were built. Quite a job. Go and see if you can see if there are eggs of bees or ladybugs in the reeds. Sometimes the insects hide among the pine cones. In spring, the eggs hatch and you see young bees and butterflies flying in the meadow. They then seek nectar from the flowers in the meadow. The reeds are long corridors for bees and wasps where they make their nests. Take a good look at them. If the hole is closed, then you know there is a nest made by a bee or wasp. Here see how to make your own insect hotel at home.

Tip 6: Spotting birds with your ears

In March, when leaves are not yet growing on the trees, you can watch the birds with binoculars. With a little patience it will work, first be quiet and listen carefully and then see where the bird is. The wren often sits low among holly bushes or cluttered piles of branches. The robin, singing loudly, seeks a spot a little higher up in the trees, and the blue tit sounds like a soft tinkling bell. Which bird do you see?

Here find the most common species.