Gathering wood for your fireplace in a forest or nature reserve is officially prohibited, says ranger Corina Cools as the autumn walking season begins. “Dead wood is important for the ecosystem of a forest,” she says. However, taking acorns, chestnuts or leaves for a school project is allowed.
Can you collect wood and fruit on an autumn walk? A forest ranger explains
Fien Vandercruyssen
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Collecting wood is a difficult issue, according to Cools. “The law officially stipulates that you are not allowed to take any wood from the forest; every nature reserve or forest must remain untouched,” she says.
While the law is not strictly enforced, you are not officially allowed to take these items with you from a forest. However, if you’re walking through a public area such as a park, you are allowed to take wood.
Management plans have been drawn up by the Agency for Nature and Forests. Gathering wood is only possible if you discuss it in advance with the ranger. The same applies to dead wood that you find on the ground.
We are stricter about mushrooms, and we also keep a close eye on protected plant species
“Dead wood is important for the ecosystem in the forest. It brings life to the forest,” says Cools. “Both branches and whole trunks are important.” Gathering wood for youth camps can be an exception. The local ranger can designate a place to do so.
Children picking up chestnuts or a stick while out on a family walk is permitted. “Of course, we wouldn’t say anything about that,” says Cools. “It’s certainly not always black and white, and we also think education for children is very important.”
Officially, you may not pick any fruit, flowers or mushrooms. Chestnuts are not such a big problem, unless you’re doing it for economic purposes.
Dead wood is important for the ecosystem in the forest. It brings life to the forest
Cools: “If you just pick a few, we certainly won't say anything. We are stricter about mushrooms, and we also keep a close eye on protected plant species.” Some types of mushrooms are poisonous and require caution.
Picking a few strawberries from a bush or an apple from a low-hanging branch is not allowed if the fruit is on someone else’s property. A field, for example, is the property of a farmer, and taking anything from it without permission is considered theft.
There’s a difference between a blackberry bush in a field and a bush growing along the side of a road. You are allowed to pick the latter, because they belong to the public space.
Forest rangers are authorised to speak to people they see in breach of the rules and may even draw up a report. If someone regularly breaches the rules, they may be fined.