Today's form of high forest is considered the pinnacle of forestry tradition. There are only very few tree species (beech, spruce, oak) - mostly of a uniform age. The trees are only felled after several generations of forest users. However, in order to meet their enormous demand for wood, people have used the forest in a completely different way for centuries. Hornbeam, oak, hazel, maple and others were cut every 10 to 30 years. The wood obtained in spring was used in a variety of ways: mostly as firewood or timber. Pruning was only ever carried out on a small scale. The coppice thus created was a mosaic-like habitat with many shrub species and flowering plants, which were able to develop thanks to the light-giving clearance. The coppice plots that are no longer used are now growing through and thus losing their special ecological value.
Further information: www.fahr-im-kreis.de
Good to know
Directions & Parking facilities
Niederwald is located in the north of Rödinghausen and can be easily reached by bike or car via the Schluchtenweg.
More information
Always know what's going on - a free number for all occasions: Bus and train customers in NRW can call 08006 50 40 30 around the clock for fare information, timetable information and more.
