De Kerkuil

There is no shortage of birds of prey here. The buzzard, sparrow hawk, goshawk and kestrel defend their territory here, as do the long-eared owl and barn owl. For years, the latter has inhabited the work shed that now houses the holiday home. The barn owl was taken into account in the design and construction. Half of the barn is still accessible to the owl and a permanent place has been made in the barn for the barn owl.

The Barn Owl is located on the Ennemaborg estate: one of the showpieces of Het Groninger Landschap. The villa dates from the fourteenth century and was rebuilt in the eighteenth century. Right behind the stately villa is a round pond with reeds, water lilies and green frogs. It is a remnant of the moat that once surrounded the villa. The front part of the estate is a park, while the natural forest is further back. The one-and-a-half km2 forest behind the park was planted 150 years ago for harvesting timber. The trees are therefore neatly lined up. It is now grazed by Konik horses; wild horses that stay on the estate all year round. They can withstand extreme weather conditions well and do not need to be stabled in winter. Grazing the estate has made it an ideal area for badgers. This is partly due to the horse manure. The manure attracts beetles and earthworms, which are at the top of the badger's menu. But you won't spot it quickly. The badger is a nocturnal animal and very shy and quiet. Due to natural management and the ageing of the forest, more and more bird species can be found. Two species of woodpecker now breed here; the lesser and great spotted woodpecker. And even the nightingale lives here.

Fancy exploring the area on foot? There is a 6-kilometre walking route across the Ennemaborg Estate. A short walk through the park or in the woods is also recommended. In spring the whole park turns yellow and purple because of all the flowers; snowdrops, crocuses and wood hyacinths. In autumn, up to 200 species of mushrooms can be found in the forest. Near the holiday home is the beautiful Coach House. Activities are regularly organised from here. Moreover, the Coach House is open between 12pm and 5pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Take a walk and then relax on the terrace or by the fireplace and enjoy a drink.

This eight-person holiday home is entirely on the ground floor. From the living room and dining kitchen, you immediately get the outdoor feeling; a long glass door opens onto the garden. The kitchen is equipped with a combi-oven, dishwasher, fridge, freezer and induction hob. There are 3 double bedrooms with single beds and 2 single bedrooms. The house has a camp bed for toddlers. There is a bathroom with a bath, shower and double sink. A second bathroom adjoins one of the bedrooms. It has a shower. Holiday home De Kerkuil has 2 separate toilets. Outside, you can relax on the covered terrace overlooking the orchard. The house is heated by a heat pump and solar panels and consists of two parts: one side is the holiday home and the other side is a work shed. On Wednesday and Thursday mornings, volunteers work there for Groninger Landschap. You can therefore expect some activity around the workshed on weekdays.

Is the Barn Owl booked and are you keen to stay in Groningen? Then check out Ewsum, which is also located on an estate or Olle Tjoard in the east of Groningen.