Background The De Zoom – Kalmthoutse Heide 3 750 ha heathland extends over the Dutch-Belgian border. It is made up of continental dunes, dry and wet heath, pools and woods. The park is both privately and publicly owned, and partnerships are necessary to maintain the land, to provide information, education and recreation and to coordinate wood production and fauna management. The project site of 460 ha is situated in the centre of the cross-border park on Dutch and Belgian land. Human impact, such as afforestation and soil desiccation, combined with a lack of nature management, has led to degradation of the habitat. There is an acute need to invest in nature restoration in this part of the cross-border park. Objectives This LIFE project aimed to restore and develop a varied heath landscape, paying special attention to the following Annex I-listed habitats of the Habitats Directive: dry sand heaths with Calluna and Genista, inland dunes with open Corynephorus and Agrostis grasslands, oligotrophic to mesotrophic standing waters with vegetation of the Littorelletea uniflorae and/or of the Isoëto-Nanojuncetea, northern Atlantic wet heaths with Erica tetralix, European dry heaths and depressions on peat substrates of the Rhynchosporion. As a first step, 52 ha would be purchased – expandable to 74 ha by means of the AC – with a view to carrying out nature management on the whole project site. Felling of trees was planned over an area of 65 ha. An open area of 120 ha would be created alongside present open terrain to connect open heath on the Dutch and Belgian part of the park. Together with sod cutting on different locations (total surface of 41 ha), this activity aimed to create the optimal conditions for the restoration of the special habitats listed above. Between this open heath and the remaining wood, an area of 20 ha was to be reserved for semi open landscape. The long-term objective was to create an open landscape that merges gradually into close woods in the south of the project site. The open heath would include a mosaic of different habitats: bare shifting sand, carpets of mosses and lichens in the pioneer phase, pioneer grasslands with Corynephorus, dry heaths with a varied age structure, well-developed wet heaths and pools. The restoration measures aimed to promote the establishment in the area of species of Community importance, such as the water plantain (Luronium natans), the large white-faced darter dragonfly (Leucorrhinia pectoralis), and the crested newt (Triturus cristatus) as well as improve the habitat for birds already breeding in the area, such as the nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus) and the woodlark (Lullula arborea). New walking paths were planned. Results The results of the HELA project are clearly visible: black cherry has been removed on a large scale and the number of rhododendrons reduced, much to the benefit of indigenous flora and fauna. Heaths are being restored, the European nightjar and the wood lark have a suitable habitat now, and smooth snakes are now found in the project area. The project purchased privately owned areas of 75 ha and 85 ha for large-scale habitat restoration, paying special attention to reconnecting some vulnerable habitats. As well as benefiting the species mentioned, these restorations are expected to increase populations of some butterfly species such as green hairstreak and bog bush-cricket. The main results of the project: Clearing 85 ha of forest, creating a cross border open land­scape of 200 ha, consisting of sand dunes, dry and wet heath, alternated with pools. This action was necessary to reconnect isolated heath lands. Restoring 18 ha of open, shifting sand by removing the remaining stumps of trees as well as the humus down to the ‘bare’ sand layer. As a consequence, sand blowing over the landscape is visible on hot days. A significant number of insects, such as rare dune beetles and spiders, need such conditions for survival. Restoring 32 ha of wet and dry heath vegetation and pools by cutting the humus layer down to the remaining seed bank. An action that required great precision. If the humus layer is not entirely removed, unwanted species like purple moor grass and trees might start dominating again. It is important to clear away the rich humus layer down to the ‘old seed bank’ that is still present. That way heath and pioneering species have new growing opportunities. Fighting the alien invasive species, such as black cherry and rhododendron, in an area measuring a total of 220 ha. Restoring 22 ha of tree heath landscape. With the forests cut, a sharp edge between the open landscape and the closed woodland was created To ease this divide, the wood edges were thinned out, creating a smooth transition from open heath into closed woodland. Grazing of sheep to prevent purple moor grass from dominating the area. A shepherd led the sheep to the parts that needed extra grazing. Throughout the entire project, the border park carried out communication activities targeting the local community and a broader audience using the website and the information panels both in the educational centre ‘De Vroente’ and in the field. A mini-exhibition on the project was created, which travelled to the three nearby municipalities: Kalmthout, Essen and Woensdrecht. The border park’s own newsletter, ‘Wissels’, kept readers informed on the progress in the area. Moreover, to enable visitors to get acquainted with the changes in the project area and to enjoy the vast scenery, two new signposted walking trails were created: ‘Ant’ on the Dutch side and ‘Lizard’ on the Flemish side. The trails have been connected to existing trails by means of connection paths. To stimulate awareness with children and their parents, and to let them experience nature in a playful way, a nature game, ‘Treasure hunt’, was designed at the educational centre ‘De Vroente’ under supervision of the LIFE project. During an excursion, the young and old can hunt for all sorts of natural treasures. All findings are stored in boxes, pots, vials and bowls and safely kept in a backpack, together with the manual. Playing the game helps children become better acquainted with the natural value of the area and to learn to look at it in a different way. Large-scale cross border monitoring of the smooth snake has now begun; the purpose is to establish whether the snake is using the open connection. Since the forest was cleared, smooth snakes have been observed on the Dutch side, where previously their presence was unknown. In 2011, four juvenile smooth snakes were found on the Dutch side. Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report and After-LIFE Conservation Plan (see "Read more" section).