Gelängeberg nature reserve

Field margins program fields with cornflower in the NSG

Corona 2020 cross in the NSG

The Gelängeberg nature reserve with a size of 12.39 hectares is located southwest of Medebach . It was designated as a nature reserve (NSG) by the Hochsauerlandkreis in 2003 with the Medebach landscape plan. The NSG is part of the European bird sanctuary Medebacher Bucht (DE-4717-401). The NSG also belongs to the FFH area of the Glindfeld-Orketal forest reserve .

Area description

The NSG includes the flat ridge of the Gelängeberg, crossed by two side valleys of the Gelängebach valley. The flat ridges of the Gelangeberg and the slope zone of the Gelängebach bear a richly structured cultural landscape complex of hedges, broom heaths (with individual junipers), lean grassland (dry smooth and golden oat meadows, dry red fescue ostrich pastures) and lean borders. Transitions to the bristle grass lawn are also formed in small areas. Numerous endangered plant species are at home in the dry grassland communities. On the narrow valley floor of the Gelängebach side valleys, small areas of wet grassland of the marsh yolk meadow type are formed; here, too, there are floristically conspicuous, endangered plant species. Parts of the valley slope zone have been signed. In the southern area there are also fields and a field margins program field on the Gelängeberg with many rare species such as cornflower . In the NSG there are the now very rare oat and meadow button Silgenwiesen.

The red-backed shrike and gray shrike breed in the area . The NSG is the center of the great gray shrike distribution within this natural area.

Protection purpose

The NSG is supposed to protect the grassland with its species inventory. In particular, it is about maintaining a cultural biotope complex of outstanding floristic, vegetation and ornithological importance. As with all nature reserves in Germany, the protection designation indicated that the area was declared a nature reserve “because of the rarity, special character and beauty of the area”.