The Loosenberge an der Lippeaue

A little wild, a little prickly – and precisely for that reason so appealing: The Loosenberge hills with the Drevenacker dunes are among the oldest nature reserves in the region and are a true highlight in the Naturpark Hohe Mark. On approximately 13 hectares, on the northern edge of the Lippe floodplain near Damm and Bricht, a landscape awaits that one will not soon forget.

What seems so idyllic today began in prehistoric times with sand. Windblown sand piled up to form inland dunes – a dune ridge roughly five kilometers long that stretches across the landscape. The soil here is barren and nutrient-poor. Actually, a difficult place for growth. Oaks and birches could manage, but they had competition: sheep. And for centuries, sheep had a healthy appetite for young, fresh saplings.

What the sheep liked disappeared. What they rejected remained. This is how today's landscape came about: sparse grasslands, open fields Heiden —and above all, juniper. It's prickly, bitter, and quite unpalatable for sheep. But it's a real asset to the landscape! There's a good reason why juniper is the most widespread conifer in the world. Its recipe for success: perseverance—and plenty of sun. It dislikes shade intensely, so the areas must be kept open for it to thrive.

The soul of the old oak tree