This booklet was created as part of the Mosaic project. The Belgian case focuses on land use change of grassland in the region of the ‘Vlaamse Ardennen’ (Flemish Ardennes). Farmers are the primary users of grassland and therefore play a key role in shaping and maintaining them. This booklet explores the farmers’ perspective on the importance of grassland, current trends and the threats they face in de Vlaamse Ardennen. During the discussion we explored not only the economic value of grasslands but also covered the more intrinsic and relational values and recent threats grasslands face. For example, participants highlighted the landscape value of seeing cows grazing outdoors, the indirect impact of manure legislation on grassland acreage, and the best smell in the world: freshly cut grass.
"I took this picture because we sometimes forget how beautiful Ronse is. You can see the farm, the cover crops and permanent grassland. The meadows are an important grazing area, not only for young stock but also for dairy cows. For us having cattle on the meadows is part of the landscape."
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"This picture was taken close to nature area ‘T Burreken. It caught my eye that the cows were all looking for shelter in the shade of the trees. At the same time, the policy obliges farmers to place cowsheds in the field. From my experience cows prefer natural cover such as shrubs and trees over artificial shelters. This picture also gives me mixed feelings as I had to stop livestock farming due to the nitrogen reduction regulations. This is a threat for grasslands."
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"On this picture we’re tedding the hay. The harvest of perennial ryegrass is the nicest but also the busiest period of the year. And looking at the clouds we probably were stressed. The weather lady is my husband's second love." - Farmer’s wife
"Every young boy plays or wants to drive a tractor. When we were thinking to become a farmer, this is what we dreamed of. And now it is our children who are driving the tractor." - Farmer
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"This picture was taken with a drone at the far end of their farm. Due to the relief, this meadow can’t be mowed. We use it for pregnant heifers. It was their first day outside and you could see the herd behavior and their curiosity. It was beautiful to see the future of our farm outside. This picture shows that it is the farmers who create the landscape (park). If all you do is reforestation then you’ll solely end up with a forest…"
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"This photo was taken when we put the young cattle outside this year, after the vaccinations against bluetongue. Our grasslands that are not mowed are for the young cattle. Some of our meadows that we cannot mow, are surrounded by forest. It is ‘WAG’ (Valuable agricultural area) and we’ve been asked asked regularly to sell it to turn it into a forest but we do not do that."
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"We mowed this meadow of a horsekeeper. The grass had become too fine for the horses to eat. It is better for the grass to enter winter short. We mostly did it to please the owner and we can still use it as fodder. My father accepted the job but the conditions were not the best, e.g. not dry enough. But now we are happy that we have some extra feed for the cows. This pictures tells us something about the change in the region. The number of horsekeepers is rising. Erosion is a hot topic here. But just look at the amount of run-off from a horse meadow via the runningtracks… That will surprise you."
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"This is a beautiful landscape that can be seen from our guest rooms on the farm. It shows a mix of meadows with natural elements, small landscape features, and forest. The better pieces of land have been taken out to be used as arable fields, while the less fertile parts, with for example stones in the soil, remain pasture. Sometimes grassland has a reason to stay grassland. The field originally had an L shape, but I ploughed a strip of grassland to create a better shape for my field. I believe that should be allowed as a farmer. This photo represents what is important for our farm. It’s important for us to have cows grazing in the meadows. We’re doing something economic, but at the same time you get to enjoy the landscape. All the other things that come with it, you gladly accept. That’s the charm of being a farmer. It’s seven days a week, but you’re out in nature."
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"This photo was also taken near ‘t Burreken. Nowadays, this land falls under zero fertilization, but before that, together with Boerennatuur, hedgerows were planted as part of the ‘BoerZoektNatuur’ project. The choice to participate was not welcomed by my father. There is still no economic model that encourages farmers to maintain or plant hedges and wooded borders. It’s an emotional story, because as a boy I spent a lot of time here herding cows, and now it has become a nature reserve."
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