NSG Eiberg

Just 150 years ago, the district of Herford was home to extensive heathland. Many field and street names such as Heideholz, Am Heidebusch and Dornberger Heide still refer to this now rare form of cultivated landscape. What distinguishes the Herford district from other heathland areas is that the heathland grows on loess loam and marl and not on sandy soil. Remnants of this can still be found today on the Eiberg, which is unique in the district of Herford with its fauna and flora. In addition to juniper, golden thistle and stemless thistle, the sand lizard and the small heath grasshopper, which is highly endangered in NRW, can also be found here.
In order to protect the rare animals and plants, the heathland has been continuously expanded in recent years. Among other things, smaller, now wooded areas have been cleared and parts of the topsoil from fallow land have been ploughed up. Ploughing is an old form of farming in which the plant cover is mechanically removed and eroded. The plaggen is used as bedding in stables and as fertilizer in the fields.

Sheep have been grazing the land for some time to ensure the long-term preservation of the valuable heathland. The heather plants renew themselves through browsing and therefore do not age.

Further information: www.fahr-im-kreis.de