Natural Values and importance
Landscape
The island of Texel is part of the Dutch Wadden Sea. The Wadden
sea region is a patchwork of very different kind of landscape:
dune areas, salt marshes, shallow water behind the islands with
shoals exposed at low tide, vast sandbanks with deep channels
in the openings to the sea, and on the islands not only nutrient-poor
saline soils but also wooded areas and grassland areas.
The Dunes of Texel itself also show a large variety in landscape
(see: Large variety in the dune landscape
of Texel). This is the result of centuries of ‘teamwork’ between
soil and climate, wind and water, flora and fauna. But, especially
on the island of Texel, man has also played an important role.
The highest nature values of the Dunes of Texel can be found
in the Horspolders and surroundings, the Slufter, in the wet dune
slacks and in the areas where fresh water from the dunes enters
the polders or marshes. The ecological quality of these areas
is unique for the Netherlands.
Flora
The flora in the Dunes of Texel is influenced by differences and
gradients in the amount of calcium in the soil and the humidity.
The amount of calcium in the soil of the dunes varies from decalcified
old inner dune ridges, to moderate calcareous fore dunes to calcium
rich environments by calcium deposition from seeping ground water.
The humidity varies from the very dry dune tops to the dune lakes
with a water table of more than one meter. This variation in circumstances
causes a large variation in plants and plant communities.
The different nature areas all have their own specific flora
(see: Large variety in the dune landscape
of Texel). On the beaches and the beach plain dune forming
plants like Sea sandwort (Honckenya peploides) can be found.
In the fore dunes Marram grass (Ammophila arenaria), Blue
sea holly (Eryngium maritimum) and Sea rocket (Cakile
maritima) grow, while further in the dunes, in the dune valleys,
many rare plant species, like gentians and orchids, can be found.
Large parts of the older dunes are grown with heather or are wooded.
In the Slufter (see: The Slufter, a tidal
inlet on the island Texel) typical marsh vegetation can be
found.
A special element is formed by the almost 500 ha wooded area (The
Dennen) between De Koog and Den Hoorn (see: Map
of Texel). This forest was planted for the production of wood,
but because of natural processes and adapted management the forest
has got a more natural character.
The wet and humid dune slacks and the heaths are very valuable
in a national and international context.
Fauna
Birds
The people from the island of Texel refer to their island as a
bird island. Due to the relative tranquillity and prominent variation
in landscape types, many different types of birds are found on
Texel. In 1996, 351 different species were counted on the island
of Texel, of which 120 species breed on the island. In comparison,
a little more than 200 different species of birds breed in all
of the Netherlands.
For some species Texel is a bulwark in the Dutch avifauna. One
of these species is the Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus), a
bird of prey with a preference for the dune region. Other dune
birds which are found relatively often on the island of Texel
are the Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna), the Northern pintail
(Anas acuta), the Northern wheateater (Oenanthe),
the Common redpoll (Carduelis flammea) and the Short-eared
owl (Asio flammeus). Furthermore, on the island of Texel
three large Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia) colonies are
present. These colonies are important in national context because
other colonies of the Spoonbill in the Netherlands had disappeared.
Other birds that choose the island of Texel above other places
along the Dutch coast are the Ringed plovers (Charadius hiaticula),
Sandwich terns (Sterna sandvicensis), Arctic terns (Sterna
paradisaea) and Little terns (Sterna albifrons). On
the mudflats to the northeast of Texel many foraging waders and
other tidal-flat birds are found.
Other animals
Large mammals were not present when Texel became an island. The
largest species on the island of Texel is the hare. A species
that is of great importance is the Northern vole (Microtus
oeconomus). This mouse is a relict from the last ice age and
the population on the island of Texel is of national importance
because in the rest of the Netherlands the Northern vole has very
strong competition from the Common vole (Microtus arvalis).
The Common vole does not live on the island of Texel.
The Dunes of Texel are a habitat for many butterflies. Some species
have the largest population on the island of Texel. In the dunes
also many digger wasps and –bees, grasshoppers and dragonflies
live.
References:
- Ministerie van Landbouw, Natuurbeheer en Visserij, directie
Natuurbeheer (1998) Nationaal Park Duinen van Texel (brochure);
i.s.m. Staatsbosbeheer. (33R2A1)
- Staatsbosbeheer (1995) The Dennen, The National Forest Service’s
recreational natural forest. (33R1BNF95)
- Staatsbosbeheer (1999) Het beheer van bos en natuur op Texel
in 1997 en 1998, beheersverslag 1999-1; Regio Noord-Holland,
district Texel. (33R2A1BN1999)
