NSG Wannebachtal – Buchholz

Deep in Dortmund’s southern embrace, lies a hidden gem, the NSG Wannebachtal – Buchholz. This nature reserve, nestled within the city limits, offers an escape from urban life. The NSG Wannebachtal – Buchholz encompasses around 95.1 hectares. It’s a sanctuary for diverse habitats. Imagine yourself standing at the edge of the reserve. The air is fresh, carrying the scent of damp earth and wildflowers. Birdsong fills the air. The Wannebach, a near-natural stream, meanders through the valley. Its banks are lined with lush greenery and occasional stands of alder trees. The NSG Wannebachtal – Buchholz protects a variety of landscapes. You’ll find abandoned sandstone quarries. These quarries boast impressive rock faces. They are listed in the Geotopkataster of North Rhine-Westphalia as valuable geological outcrops. They offer a unique habitat for the endangered midwife toad. Even the eagle owl calls this place home. The reserve extends to the east, north of Wannestrasse and northeast of the A45. Within these areas, the Wannebach continues its natural course as a forest stream. South of the A45, small springs with opposite-leaved liverwort dot the stream’s path. The northeastern part of the NSG Wannebachtal – Buchholz encompasses a diverse complex of forest habitats, wetlands, and small bodies of water. These ponds provide breeding grounds for the area’s amphibians. A relic of a species-rich, lean wet meadow is maintained through annual care by the city. To preserve the wet meadows along the Wannebach, continued extensive management, such as sheep grazing, is essential. For adjacent, species-poor grasslands, increasing biodiversity through extensive use and hay transfer is recommended. The forests within the NSG Wannebachtal – Buchholz are primarily managed according to nature conservation criteria. Some areas of near-natural beech or oak forests and areas affected by calamities are left to natural succession. These include deadwood-rich, dead spruce stands. This nature reserve isn’t just a place of beauty. It’s a vital habitat for rare and endangered species. The short-winged grasshopper and the marsh grasshopper thrive in the wet meadows. Amphibians like the mountain newt, smooth newt, pond newt, grass frog, common toad, and the critically endangered midwife toad find refuge here. Reptiles such as the slow worm and the common lizard also call the reserve home. The flora is just as diverse. Look for the spotted orchid, ragged-robin, marsh marigold, marsh yarrow, marsh water starwort, and water ragwort. As you leave NSG Wannebachtal – Buchholz, carry the memory of its tranquility with you. It’s a reminder of the natural wonders that can exist even within a bustling city like Dortmund.