There is a pleasure in the pathless woods,
there is a rapture on the lonely shore,
there is a society where none intrudes,
by the deep sea, and music in its roar:
I love not the man less,
but nature more.
(F. Scott Fitzgerald)
Lendevallei (close to Wolvega)
The Lendevallei is part of the “wet axis”, a chain of swamp areas on the border of Friesland and Overijssel, and falls under the responsibility of It Fryske Gea. It is a varied swampy area in the brook valley landscape of the Lende and a wet oasis of calmness. There are special marsh birds to be observed, but also meadow birds, foxes, deers, and many insects. The area is one of my favorites and I often walk a route of approx. 5.5 km. A variety of day and night butterflies can be found in this area. In spring and summer, the Peacock Butterfly, Brimstone, Small Tortoiseshell, Red Admiral, Large Skipper, and Meadow Brown are very active. For more special species, I saw the Clouded Yellow, Scarce Swallowtail, and the Sooty Copper. The latter is a vulnerable species and I have not seen it in this area in recent years.
