Partner projects:

Die Haard - in implementation

The Haard is a typical example of the different needs that are placed on the forest. The interests of recreational athletes and those seeking relaxation are often at odds with those of the forest. In the course of WALDbandThere are new information offerings that consciously guide visitors into forest areas that are less sensitive.

A new mountain bike route, conscious visitor guidance and the creation of a FOREST promenade between Marl and Oer-Erkenschwick help the forest and visitors to relax.

Stimberghöhe - in implementation

The Stimberghöhe project, with a former military site and adjacent nature reserve, covers a total area of ​​6,9 hectares. Here, nature conservation measures such as the development and maintenance of heather areas, the formation of a light oak-birch forest, neophyte control, clearing quartzite banks and dry grass areas are carried out in order to Upgrade area.

Since the Stimberg is a well-developed and popular destination for those looking for relaxation, accompanying measures to guide and inform visitors are essential for the sustainable success of nature conservation measures.

Visitors gain insight into the constant interactions between natural development and human influence and are guided through the area on a well-designed discovery tour. Viewing platforms, steel silhouettes, information boards and a green classroom complete the concept.

Neue Wildnis Dämmerwald – completed

The project "Neue Wildnis Dämmerwald“ is located in the wilderness development area of ​​Dawning Forest near Schermbeck. It is a forest area with old deciduous trees, which should develop into a "new" wilderness without human intervention. The aim of the area is to make a contribution to nature, species and climate protection and to involve the population in the context of wilderness and environmental education.

For this purpose, an approximately 2,5 km long, low-barrier circular path has been created, which is equipped with exciting information and interaction offers on the subject of "wilderness in the making". Starting from the “Teufelsstein” hiking car park at Malbergerstraße 105 in 46514 Schermbeck, visitors are greeted by a „Wildnistor“ welcomed. There, area-related information is conveyed via information boards. At six information points along the circular route - the "wilderness windows" - the visitor gets an insight into the emerging wilderness.

Bee meets wild boar, biodiversity project - near-natural forest edge design and monitoring to monitor success - completed

At the edge of the Haard, the forest directly meets agricultural land. These were plowed to the edge of the forest, often cultivated with maize for years and intensively fertilized with liquid manure.

However, in order to improve the biodiversity and the landscape, various agricultural products are to be planted alternately every year if possible. Stepped forest edges, provided with edge strips made of meadow herbs such as cornflower or poppy, create a smooth transition from arable to forest areas.

These measures not only benefit the forest, but also improve groundwater protection.

WALDgesichter – completed

On the initiative of the Regionalverband Ruhr (RVR), an innovative inventory and planning method was developed at the Ostwestfalen-Lippe University of Applied Sciences as part of a seminar for urban planning students in the winter semester 2015/16, led by Prof. Martin Hoelscher and Prof. Kathrin Volk so-called "raster search" in the project room WALDband accomplished. An essential feature of the "raster search" is the grid-like division of the investigation area and the consciously subjective "experience" and "inspection" of the area, which is limited to two days. Finally, the collected impressions are recorded in the form of images (photos), encounters (interviews), objects (collection), sounds/smells (recordings, notes) and much more.

On this basis, the students developed the first conceptual approaches for a regional tourism development of the area. The results are evaluated by the RVR and are taken into account for the “regional tourism concept / tourist mobility concept” in terms of identifying the area or internal marketing derived from it. In addition, a public photo competition was held.

WALDerlebnisweg Reken – completed

The WALDerlebnisweg Reken is a hiking trail with 12 adventure stations on the subject of "life of animals and plants in the forest".

In order to bring families, kindergartens and schools closer to the topics of forest and nature, the community Reken on an existing hiking trail in a wooded area Walderlebnisweg built. Already in 2012, as part of the Naturparklook in Naturpark Hohe Mark a low ropes course. This is followed by an approximately 1,4 km long hiking trail to the observation tower on Melchenberg. 12 experience stations have been set up along this path, which playfully convey interesting facts about life in the forest, energetics, types of wood, the history of the forest and forest animals.

Inclusion in the landscape – completed

The water castle Raesfeld with the nearby Naturparkhaus and the adjoining Tiergarten is an outstanding tourist attraction in the region and beyond, in whose surroundings both the experience of nature and getting to know an imposing cultural monument is possible.

However, this experience and getting to know each other was not possible for people with disabilities due to the inadequate expansion of the paths and bridges.

For example, it was not easy for wheelchair users to get over one of the bridges into the castle courtyard or to drive around one of the castle ponds. Visually impaired people did not find a guidance system to help them walk around the castle.

In order to enable all generations, and especially those with disabilities, to actively experience nature and immerse themselves in a world steeped in history, it was necessary to adapt the infrastructure around the Raesfeld moated castle and create differentiated media offers for visitors.

By changing the media used (display boards and listening stations) different senses are addressed in the visitors, which means that a larger number of people can be reached.

It was a particular challenge to coordinate the measures with the requirements for monument protection.

Regional tourism concept Naturpark Hohe Mark – completed

It became one Regional tourism concept for Naturpark Hohe Mark for the touristic reorientation and marketing of the Naturparks created.

With this concept and the resulting positioning strategy for the Naturpark Hohe Mark should the three lead products "Hohe Mark Steig","Hohe Mark Radroute" and "Hohe Mark adventure spaces" based on the key themes "change of perspective in four landscapes" and "animal experience guarantee".