Criticism of new nature national park: Rider fears being attacked by a stallion in heat

Criticism of new nature national park: Rider fears being attacked by a stallion in heat

Wild cattle and free-roaming horses are to be introduced in the new nature national park, and that will ruin the forest, according to riders.

Ane Kirstine Ilsøe often rides in Bidstrup Forests, which will likely contribute 500 hectares of land to the new nature national park. (Photo: © Elias Søgaard Godballe Schmidt) 52 minutes ago

It may soon be a thing of the past to take a ride under the treetops in Bidstrup Forests on Zealand.

At least that is what rider Ane Kirstine Ilsøe believes, as she criticises Lejre Municipality for wanting to establish a new nature national park in a large part of Bidstrup Forests, which is part of the Skovhøjlandet, Zealand's second-largest forest area.

The criticism comes because the municipality, among other things, plans to release free-roaming cattle and horses in the new nature national park. According to Ane Kirstine Ilsøe, it is especially the horses that are the major problem.

> My access to the forest will be completely restricted if the free-roaming horses come.

- If I ride into an enclosure with free-roaming horses, there will likely be a stallion that wants to protect his herd. And that could become an extremely dangerous situation for people, because there is a high risk that the stallion will either attack or cover the horse I am riding, she says and adds:

- My access to the forest will be completely restricted if the free-roaming horses come. I would have very serious reservations about moving through the forest with my horses and children, and in the end I would probably be forced to move.

According to Ane Kirstine Ilsøe, it can be extremely dangerous for people to enter an enclosure with free-roaming horses.

The purpose of the nature national park is, among other things, to strengthen biodiversity. Is your need to be in nature more important than biodiversity?

- No, but we need to find solutions where everyone is safe. Bidstrup Forests are state forests, and therefore everyone should be able to move safely and securely, whether they ride, cycle, or walk their dog. That is why it is also crucial that free-roaming horses are not introduced, says Ane Kirstine Ilsøe.

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A park facing galloping headwinds

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Ane Kirstine Ilsøe is not the only one raising criticism of the Bidstrup Forests Nature National Park.

Elisabeth Sthur, who represents the Danish Riding Association on the local board for the nature national park, is also concerned about the riders.

- Bidstrup Forests are used by riders from all over Zealand, so the new nature national park is a very serious intervention in our ability to get out into nature, she says.

For Ane Kirstine Ilsøe, the release of free-roaming horses will ruin her opportunities to be in nature.

But according to Michael Ralf Larsen, SF mayor of Lejre Municipality, the municipality has already done a lot to address the criticism.

- We have experienced quite massive opposition to the establishment of the nature national park, but we have done a lot to listen to the locals. In 2022, we set up a local project group for all interest groups, and therefore the project looks quite different now than it did five years ago, says the mayor.

According to Michael Ralf Larsen, the municipality has, among other things, changed the type of fencing that will surround the nature national park.

On Monday evening, Lejre Municipality must approve a consultation response, which will be processed by the Danish Nature Agency and the Ministry of the Environment before the nature national park can become a reality.

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