Whispers of ancient trees and rustling leaves welcome us to the NSG Herrentheyer Wald. This isn’t just any forest. It is a sanctuary teeming with life. The NSG Herrentheyer Wald in Dortmund is a testament to nature’s resilience.
In 2005, the area was officially designated a nature reserve. This was after the first amendment to the Dortmund-Nord landscape plan. Before that, this area belonged to the municipality of Brambauer. It became part of Dortmund in 1950.
Today the NSG Herrentheyer Wald covers 22.3 hectares. It lies on Dortmund’s northern outskirts in Holthausen. Farmlands surround it, except to the north where it borders the A2 motorway.
The Herrentheyer Wald is the remaining part of a once vast forest. It is a mixed oak forest. Beech, alder, and poplar trees also thrive here. The forest is rich in old trees and deadwood. This provides vital habitat for many bird species.
Seventeen bird species on the Red List of endangered species call this place home. Numerous ponds offer refuge for amphibians and dragonflies. The NSG Herrentheyer Wald is a crucial stepping stone biotope. It connects to the nearby Grävingholz, Süggel, and Im Siesack nature reserves.
Our primary goals here are conservation and development. We aim to maintain the forest as an old, mixed deciduous woodland. This includes preserving its small ponds and pools. These habitats are vital for the local ecosystem.
The forest consists mainly of oak-hornbeam and beech mixed forests. You will notice the wavy hair-grass beech forest in many spots. Holly grows densely in the shrub layer. Besides oak, hornbeam, and beech, you’ll see black alder and mountain maple. Downy birch, red oak, and Japanese larch also dot the landscape.
Two natural small bodies of water sit in the forest’s northwest. In 2020, the nature reserve expanded east. It now includes areas east of the ecologically optimized Ihländer Bach. In the northern half, young trees are being planted. Pioneer woody species like oak, hornbeam, and birch are growing. A naturally developed small body of water lies here too. It boasts reed vegetation. Species-poor meadows dominate the southern half. The straightened Wibbelsbach stream borders these meadows to the north. Along the Wibbelsbach, you will find damp meadows. They feature plants like wood angelica, valerian and marsh trefoil.
The NSG Herrentheyer Wald faces challenges. Noise from the nearby motorway is a concern. Green waste deposits in the west and “wild toilets” near the rest area pose problems too. Yet, this small protected area remains vital. It serves as a local stepping stone biotope for forest communities.
Let’s take a moment to appreciate this sanctuary. The NSG Herrentheyer Wald stands as a beacon of biodiversity amidst urban life. It reminds us of the importance of preserving our natural heritage.