Monumental trees in the Sonian Forest in Hoeilaart

Here 27 trees are described in the Sonian Forest in Hoeilaart.

The Sonian Forest (Dutch: Zoniënwoud, French: Forêt de Soignes) is a 4,421-hectare (10,920-acre) forest that lies across the south-eastern part of city of Brussels.

The forest is part of the scattered remains of the ancient Charcoal Forest. The first mention of the Sonian Forest (Soniaca Silva) dates from the early Middle Ages.

The forest reserve Kersselaerspleyn was planted with beech in 1777 after being clearcut. Since 1983 it is left without forest management, it is a forest reserve since 1995. Since 2005 the reserve is enlarged to over 200 ha.
The old core reserve has nearly only beech, in the newer parts of the reserve there are also many large oaks.

The trees

Schone eik:

Specimen $\text{[math]}$	Girth $\text{[math]}$	Height $\text{[math]}$
Schone Eik (pedunculate oak "1861")	4.61 m	41.60 m
European larch (Larix decidua) "4010"	3.40 m	37.20 m

Kersselaerspleyn:

Specimen $\text{[math]}$	Girth $\text{[math]}$	Height $\text{[math]}$
European beech (Fagus sylvatica) "4017"	5.20 m	45.65 m
European beech (Fagus sylvatica) "1867"	4.66 m	?
European beech (Fagus sylvatica) "1905"	4.56 m	~ 43.00 m
European beech (Fagus sylvatica) "1902"	4.40 m	43.00 m
Giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) "2034"	4.25 m	45.60 m
European beech (Fagus sylvatica) "1908"	4.08 m	45.30 m
European beech (Fagus sylvatica) "1862"	4.02 m	45.00 m
European beech (Fagus sylvatica) "1906"	3.94 m	~ 42.60 m
European beech (Fagus sylvatica) "1904"	3.86 m	42.00 m
Giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) "2038"	3.85 m	?
Giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) "6766"	3.57 m	47.00 m
Giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) "2037"	3.55 m	?
European beech (Fagus sylvatica) "1907"	3.27 m	45.40 m
European beech (Fagus sylvatica) "1903"	3.25 m	44.80 m
Grand fir (Abies grandis) "6965"	2.98 m	40.20 m
Grand fir (Abies grandis) "6767"	2.62 m	44.40 m
Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) "6966"	2.50 m	42.40 m
European beech (Fagus sylvatica) "1900"	?	42.40 m
European beech (Fagus sylvatica) "1901"	?	44.00 m

Palissadepad:

Specimen $\text{[math]}$	Girth $\text{[math]}$	Height $\text{[math]}$
European beech (Fagus sylvatica) "1992"	4.46 m	?
Pedunculate oak (Quercus robur) "1993"	3.76 m	?

Drie Fonteinen:

Specimen $\text{[math]}$	Girth $\text{[math]}$	Height $\text{[math]}$
Norway maple (Acer platanoides) "4035"	~ 2.00 m	32.60 m

Oude Renbaan:

Specimen $\text{[math]}$	Girth $\text{[math]}$	Height $\text{[math]}$
Technobeuk (European beech "4048")	?	42.80 m

$\text{[math]}$ Show on map · $\text{[math]}$ Edit data of this location

Photos

Schone eik
- Pedunculate oak (Quercus robur) "1861"
Kersselaerspleyn
Palissadepad
- European beech (Fagus sylvatica) "1992"
- Pedunculate oak (Quercus robur) "1993"
Drie Fonteinen
Oude Renbaan
- European beech (Fagus sylvatica) "4048"

The photos are provided by Marc Meyer, Jeroen Philippona, Han van Meegeren, and Tim B.

Schone Eik (pedunculate oak "1861")

European beech (Fagus sylvatica) "1862"

European beech (Fagus sylvatica) "1867"

European beech (Fagus sylvatica) "1904"

European beech (Fagus sylvatica) "1907"

The beeches 1908 (left) and 1907.

European beech (Fagus sylvatica) "1908"

Beech "1908" with beech "1907" in the background.

Giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) "2034"

Giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) "2037"

Giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) "2038"

European beech (Fagus sylvatica) "4017"

Climbers, measurers and whitnesses of the climbing of the largest and tallest beech of the Sonian forest. From left to right: Gemma van Meegeren, Marc Meyer, Joost Werkhoven, Peter van de Kerckhove, Marco Esprit, Leo Goudzwaard, Jeroen Snaaier, Han van Meegeren and Koen van Gompel.