Brauke nature reserve (Meinerzhagen)

The Brauke nature reserve is a 10.2 hectare nature reserve (NSG) west or southwest of the village of Wehe in the town of Meinerzhagen in the Märkisches Kreis in North Rhine-Westphalia . The NSG was designated in 2001 by the district council of the Märkischer Kreis with the landscape plan No. 6 Meinerzhagen . The NSG is located directly on the city limits to Kierspe and the nature reserve of the same name there .

Area description

The NSG is a source area and grassland. It is a seepage spring area on a slightly inclined north slope in an alder-ash forest, where the water emerges at various points and initially flows through small gullies to finally unite and form a stream bed of woe . Two groups of Ilex grow in the middle of the source area. Some ilex are about 8 m high and one specimen reaches about 10 m high. Further below the source area of the woe , in the source area of an inlet to the woe, there is an alder swamp forest rich in ferns, deadwood and peat moss. The black alders are multi-stemmed and in the low middle and strong tree wood age. There are also some old pines and red beech trees, sand / moor birches and sessile oaks. Most of the soil is very wet. Extensive sphagnum lawns can be found in numerous wells with water. To the north, towards the foot of the slope, there is a large rush swamp. In several water-filled depressions there are larger peat moss pillows, which together with the ostrich grass form up to 5 m² of swinging lawn. In the middle slope hill spring moor areas are connected. The valley floor is mainly occupied by pasture grassland and smaller fallow grassland. There the Wehebach flows naturally meandering accompanied by trees on the banks of the alder.

Protection purpose

The nature reserve was designated for the preservation and development of a source area in the forest with moor and swamp characteristics and grassland and as a habitat for endangered animal and plant species. As with other nature reserves in Germany, the protection designation indicated that the area became a nature reserve “because of its scenic beauty and uniqueness”.