In the gentle, ever-changing lands of Belgium, where misty coasts meet rolling Ardennes hills, the seasons dictate a subtle and beautiful rhythm for its wildlife. Beneath the splendour of a diverse landscape, the urgent clock of survival ticks – moving ever closer to the next winter.
Winter is soft but damp, with grey skies, frequent drizzle, and temperatures hovering just above freezing. Red deer and wild boar retreat deeper into forests, conserving energy as food grows scarce. Squirrels hunker down in hollow trees, relying on stored nuts, while many birds migrate to warmer climes.
As spring creeps in, life stirs. Sticklebacks begin to build nests in forest streams. Kingfishers pair up to mate in the skies above. Forests change to a verdant green and a wild boar mother forages with her tiny brood of piglets.
By the time summer is in full swing, stag beetles begin titanic fights for access to females. A lone peregrine falcon hunts the skies – diving at over 300km per hour. As night falls, owls emerge to hunt and lightning bugs take over the forest as if by magic. Strange salamanders begin an intricate breeding ritual, while predatory pike hunt in the deep shadows.
As autumn arrives, red deer bellow and fights break out between stags. Winter slowly exerts a subtle grip on the landscape, and Belgium’s wild characters disappear into woods, streams and swamps. Shot over three years, exceptional cinematography above and below the water reveals Belgium’s hidden wildlife gems.