NSG Buschei

Hidden within Dortmund’s eastern embrace lies the NSG Buschei, a nature reserve teeming with secrets. NSG Buschei whispers tales of a past shrouded in military history. Before becoming a haven for nature, this land served a different purpose. Before World War II, it was the Fliegerhorst Dortmund-Brackel, an airfield humming with activity. Later, the British Rhine Army and the German Bundeswehr claimed the land, their presence keeping it untouched for decades. The NSG Buschei is a testament to nature’s resilience. Imagine a landscape scarred by war, slowly healing under a blanket of green. Remnants of bunkers and a shooting range still stand as silent witnesses to this area’s military past. The very ground beneath our feet may hold unexploded ordnance, a chilling reminder of the past. After the British forces departed in 1995, the land was quickly designated a protected area. This swift action preserved the unique ecosystem that had thrived in isolation. NSG Buschei is a mosaic of habitats. Ancient oak and hornbeam trees dominate the landscape, interspersed with beech trees and fluttering wood grass. Open grasslands stretch towards the horizon, once grazed by officers’ horses. Newly created ponds shimmer in the sunlight, providing refuge for a variety of species. The NSG Buschei is bordered by a golf course to the west and a new housing development, Hohenbuschei, to the southwest. Interestingly, Hohenbuschei also encompasses Borussia Dortmund’s training ground. Both the golf course and the housing development are located on the grounds of the former airport, where the British once operated a missile base. Now, as we stand at the edge of the NSG Buschei, we are invited to explore a place reborn. A place where the echoes of history mingle with the songs of birds. This nature reserve, once a place of exclusion, now welcomes us to witness the remarkable power of nature’s recovery. The NSG Buschei stands as a symbol of transformation, a place where the scars of war have given way to the vibrant tapestry of life.