I like to go out hiking in nature and combine that with my love for photography. I woke very early and when I looked outside I saw it was gong to be a nice day. So I had a quick breakfast and took out my bike (yes I’m Dutch 
) and cycled to a nature reserve close to my home called the Koelingsveld. I parked my bike and started walking.
The Koelingsveld is mainly heath and to maintain that conservation grazing is needed. In this place they keep sheep and highland cattle to stop the grasses overgrowing the heath.
The Highland cattle became popular in the Netherlands for conservation grazing. They have an unusual double coat of hair. On the outside is the oily outer hair (the longest of any cattle breed) covering a downy undercoat. This makes them well suited to nature conditions as they are very tough and hardy and can stay out in the field without needing a shelter. The Highland cattle have a different grazing pattern to sheep so they have each their own function.
On the heath some specific animals can be found. One of them is the Silver-studded blue (Plebejus argus) on Cross-leaved heath (Erica tetralix).
The Green tiger beetle (Cicindela campestris) Like other tiger beetles, they run fast on their long legs (it can run at speeds of 60 cm per second) and are most often seen on bare ground. They can fly fast, making a loud buzzing noise.
Some wonderful birds can also been seen here like the European stonechat (Saxicola rubicola). They breed in heathland, coastal dunes and rough grassland with scattered small shrubs and bramble, open gorse, tussocks or heather.
A other pretty rare bird I have seen is the Black woodpecker (Dryocopus martius). I was lucky to see and take pictures of this couple that must have been breeding somewhere in this area.
Also the European hare (Lepus europaeus) can be seen here.
Other animals I have seen here are European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and European badger (Meles meles) . I love the peaceful quietness that is in this area (especially in the early morning before traffic disturbs it).
Urn Field
On the Koelingsveld the largest urn field in northwestern Europe is found. It came into use in the second period of the Bronze Age, from 1100 BC, when an entirely new funeral ritual came into use. They switched en masse to cremation. The cremation remains were buried in an urn or in bare ground. Remains of various temples were found in the middle of the urn field. The field was excavated in 1937.
I would love to hear what you favourite place is to go hiking or cycling.
. I’m seeing so much more when I go out on my bike instead of taking my car. It also a healthy and useful exercise. Years ago I did 70 Km per day, 5 days a week.
⚘⚘ 
But again, no good angle. Have you been there? Any photo to share?