Volkegembos

From loam quarry to (walking) wood
The Volkegembos lies entirely within a former loam-extraction area. Under the regional plan, the area was originally earmarked for agricultural use once extraction ended, so no landscape restoration was planned. To achieve the best combination of landscape restoration, erosion prevention and protection of the groundwater, its post-extraction designation was changed to woodland.

In time, the town of Oudenaarde will acquire two parts of the Volkegembos. The third is owned by Natuurpunt. Once the project is complete, Volkegem will have a town wood of more than 30 hectares in total, which can also be seen as an extension of the Bos 't Ename.

The afforestation also helps protect several drinking-water sources in the immediate vicinity.

The footpaths in the three parts of the wood link up with one another.