Bergwiesen nature reserve near Neuastenberg (Winterberg)

Nature reserve (grassland in front) with Neuastenberg

The nature reserve Bergwiesen bei Neuastenberg with a size of 95.77 hectares is located around Neuastenberg in the urban area of Winterberg . The area was designated as a nature reserve (NSG) by the Hochsauerlandkreis in 2008 with the Winterberg landscape plan . The NSG consists of eight separate areas. Partial areas of the NSG are also around Lenneplätze and Mollseifen .

In the urban area of Schmallenberg there is a nature reserve of the same name Bergwiesen near Neuastenberg (Schmallenberg) . The NSG and the entire area belong to the FFH area Bergwiesen bei Winterberg (DE 4717-305) with an area of 501 hectares. The NSG partly borders directly on the landscape protection area Postwiese and lean grassland near Neuastenberg . The Rothaarsteig leads past the NSG.

Area description

The NSG is mountain meadows. Rare animal and plant species are found in the NSG. In the course of centuries of agricultural use, species-rich, montane grassland communities have developed and maintained on the Winterberg plateau and in the valleys sunk into it at an altitude of almost 600 to over 770 m above sea level. The nature reserve Bergwiesen near Neuastenberg is the western area of these mountain meadows. To the north are in the nature reserve Bergwiesen bei Altastenberg and to the northeast in the nature reserve Bergwiesen bei Winterberg , furthermore in several landscape protection areas around the three mountain meadows nature reserves there are further mountain meadows. All mountain meadows near Winterberg are a legally protected biotope according to § 30 BNatSchG .

The parts of the NSG around Lenneplätze and around Mollseifen with golden oat meadows are rich in species across the board, including the occurrence of numerous “Red List” plant species. In the part of the area around Neuastenberg, such lean golden oat meadows are repeatedly interspersed with the more nutrient-supplied or sometimes more humid grassland.

Protection purpose

The NSG is supposed to protect the mountain meadows with species inventory.

As with all nature reserves in Germany, the protection designation pointed out that the area became a nature reserve “because of the rarity, special character and beauty of the area”.