Hummelgrund nature reserve

Flock of sheep with guard dogs in the western part of the NSG Hummelgrund

Central area of the Hummelgrund nature reserve in winter

Western area of the Hummelgrund nature reserve in May

The Hummelgrund nature reserve is located northwest of Udorf in the urban area of Marsberg in the Hochsauerlandkreis . It was designated as a nature reserve (NSG) in 2008 with the Marsberg landscape plan and is 34.31 hectares in size. Parts of the NSG belong to the Fauna-Flora-Habitat (FFH) Glockengrund, Glockenücken and Hummelgrund (Natura 2000-Nr. DE-4519-305) in the European system of protected areas according to Natura 2000 . The NSG borders directly on the state border of Hesse in the north . The NSG represents the northern part of the FFH area Glockengrund, Glockenücken and Hummelgrund . To the south of the Hummelgrund is the Glockengrund nature reserve and to the southeast the Udorfer Mühle nature reserve . The FFH area, together with the similarly structured NSGs on the slopes of Glinde and Diemeltal, belongs to a historical type of cultural landscape with close interlinking of bushes and open land and with a species-rich and specific fauna and flora of carbonate character, which is unique in the Hochsauerland district. In the past, these areas were usually tended by shepherds with their herds of sheep and goats.

description

The poor grasslands in the NSG represent a remnant of the historical pasture landscapes on lime weathered soils with Zechstein limestone of the Marsberg plateau, which is outstanding in its nature conservation value. The NSG Hummelgrund comprises the mainly south-facing flanks of the valley of the same name. The grassland in the NSG on the valley flank consists partly of poor grass, more precisely limestone grassland. The grassland in the NSG is divided by forest and shrubbery areas of different sizes. The mostly dry stream bed running in the NSG is deepened by up to 2 m and is lined in parts by field trees from old willow and hazel. The decisive features of the area, however, are the flowering limestone grasslands, which are often enriched by different densely developed bushes and have numerous nesting mounds of meadow ants. The field name Eisengrube and some only vaguely recognizable mining pings suggest old ore mining in the area. Through the bushes, the area is also a valuable breeding habitat for endangered heck nesting birds such as the red-backed shrike .

Protection purpose of the nature reserve

The NSG was designated for the maintenance of a biotope complex that is rich in structure and particularly species, made up of variously poor grassland areas with rich field trees and littered beech forests. The habitat function for a number of endangered plant, bird and insect species should also be preserved. The NSG is intended to help secure the use of grassland by herding sheep. The NSG is intended to contribute to the implementation of the European Natura 2000 system of protected areas .

natural reserve

Members of the VNV during a break during a work assignment in Hummelgrund

Parts of the areas in the NSG belong to the NRW Foundation . The NSG is mostly looked after by a shepherd from Udorf with his flock of sheep and goats. Other grassland areas are used by the shepherd as hay meadows and are re-grazed later in the year. Since the 1990s, the Association for Nature and Bird Protection in the Hochsauerlandkreis (VNV) and the Biological Station Hochsauerlandkreis in the NSG have also been taking care of them . In particular, blackthorn bushes and stick rashes were removed with a chainsaw and brush cutter .

literature

Hochsauerlandkreis - Lower Landscape Authority: Marsberg landscape plan. Meschede 2008, p. 73.
Werner Schubert: Lean lime grass in the Marsberg area - Brilon permanently saved (PDF; 1.85 MB) Irrgeister 2006/23. Pp. 20-22.