Heidi Bouwman

What do you do in the national park?

"I love running on the Sallandse Heuvelrug with my running group. Often in Haarle from 'de Pas,' but also in Hellendoorn, Nijverdal, Holten, or Lemele. It's a randomly composed group, but they've become my friends. We usually run between 9 and 13 kilometers. If we're training for something, it sometimes has to be a bit more. I would really miss it if I couldn't do it anymore. You feel reborn when you get home, not just because of the release of endorphins. The surroundings are beautiful. It smells wonderful, people are good-natured. It feels like a mini vacation on Sunday mornings. We don't need to travel far, and we don't feel like we're missing out on anything. We don't have a carbon footprint in terms of flying," says Heidi, laughing.

My favorite spot is the area around the Palthe Tower. It's funny that both my husband and I used to look out on the Palthe Tower from our own bedrooms as kids. We had the same view, even though we didn't know each other yet! Another favorite is the Squirrel Forest, where we've often been with our children. I find the Canadian Cemetery in Holten a special place that I visit at least once a year. I'm most attached to the forest next to our farm. You don't encounter anyone there. It feels like our own piece of nature, but it's owned by the IJssellandschap Foundation. I take a daily walk there with the dog and provide farm education.

Mini vacation

The Sallandse Heuvelrug gives me the feeling of a mini vacation. I could do without the sea, but not without the forest... The smell, all seasons are beautiful, even in winter when everything is asleep. Here I can really recharge. On Sunday mornings, when you're in the forest alone with the athletes, it creates a bond because you always meet the same people. And afterward, you all meet at the coffee with apple pie, haha! During the Covid pandemic, cars were already parked along the road. Everyone then realized that you can always venture into nature. That it is a foundation that is always there; realizing that it doesn't have to be difficult to enjoy nature.

Roots

I grew up here, this place is part of me. I have beautiful memories of my childhood in this area: that time we went for a walk with the family in the area and couldn't find the car anymore, I found that very exciting at the time. What used to be Piet Bos but is now the Holterberg Nature Museum with beautiful nature dioramas, life-sized 'viewing boxes,' that give a magnificent view of the animal world. When I just started running, the 'Diepe Hel race, the foam was on my mouth then... When people ask me if I'm from here, I'm always happy to say: "Yes, I am. I feel very connected to it. My roots are here."

Grandchildren

I would really like it if I could continue doing those fun simple things with my grandchildren in the future, should I have them, playing nicely with them. To also pass on the love for nature to them. That you have to take care of it. Don't throw away litter, candy wrappers, or balloons from children's parties. It causes so much trouble for the animals living here, the cows grazing here 
 

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