Groenhovebos, Nature area in Torhout, Belgium

Groenhovebos is a forest area of over 100 hectares east of Torhout, mostly old deciduous woodland on low-lying ground. It is owned mainly by the Diocese of Bruges, the city of Torhout and Natuurpunt. The forest is crossed by the Regenbeek, also called Velddambeek, and includes a pond and a former swimming pool. The domain contains the Virgo Fidelis centre with its chapel.

Archaeological excavations during E403 motorway construction revealed traces of Roman settlements at the foot of the Wijnendale plateau where the forest now stands. These findings show that people have inhabited this area for thousands of years.

The name Groenhove comes from the former Vrijgeweed estate of the Wijnendale lordship, sold as national property at the end of the 18th century. From 1867 to 1868 Richard Vande Walle-De Ghelcke built a chalet forestier here, used as a German hospital in World War I and rented until 1949 to the artists' collective Atelier Groenhove, which included Carlo de Brouckère and Claude Strebelle. The damaged castle was demolished that year; the diocese of Bruges then founded the Virgo Fidelis centre, with a chapel (1958) and retreat house (1959).

The five walking trails vary in length and difficulty, allowing visitors to choose based on their experience and available time. All routes start from the Bosdreef parking area and are clearly marked to make navigation through the forest straightforward.

The forest lies in a low-lying area where seepage keeps the ground wet, favouring plants such as wood anemone, wood sorrel, lily of the valley and water violet. The palmate newt lives in its pools. In the late 1970s a plan to parcel the wood into building plots was stopped by the Torhout environmental group.