Udorfer Mühle nature reserve

Aerial view from the south with the eastern part of the nature reserve Udorfer Mühle (area rich in hedges in the right half of the picture)

Aerial view from the north-westerly direction with the eastern part of the nature reserve Udorfer Mühle (area rich in hedges in the right of the development)

Part of the nature reserve Udorfer Mühle (pale yellow area)

Central area of the NSG

The nature reserve Udorfer Mühle is located southwest of Udorf in the urban area of Marsberg in the Hochsauerlandkreis at the Udorfer Mühle. It was designated as a nature reserve (NSG) in 2008 with the Marsberg landscape plan and is 19.51 hectares in size. The NSG consists of two areas. It borders in the north on the landscape protection area open spaces west of Udorf and the landscape protection area lean grassland on Glockengrund . In the south to the landscape protection area Rotes Land , on a part of the landscape protection area open spaces west of Udorf and on two special areas around built-up areas. The NSG borders in the east on the nature reserve Unteres Orpetal .

FFH area Glockengrund, Glockenücken and Hummelgrund

The NSG represents a sub-area in the Fauna-Flora-Habitat (FFH) Glockengrund, Glockenücken and Hummelgrund (Natura 2000-Nr. DE-4519-305) in the European protected area system according to Natura 2000. The NSG represents the southern part of the FFH area Glockengrund , Glockenücken and Hummelgrund . To the north of the Udorfer Mühle nature reserve are the Glockengrund nature reserve and the Hummelgrund 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 pastureland on the calcareous soils of the Marsberg plateau, which is outstanding in its nature conservation value. Lean lawn is a brisket fescue limestone dry lawn. In the eastern part of the area there are characteristic wooded terrace edges in the eastern part. Junipers are also found in the eastern part of the area. By the rich structure with small trees, the area is also a valuable breeding habitat for endangered heck nesting birds such as the red-backed shrike . In the NSG, former arable terraces can be seen which are now used as grassland.

Protection purpose of the nature reserve

The NSG was designated for the maintenance of a biotope complex that is rich in structure and particularly rich in species and made up of variously poor grassland areas with rich field trees. Preservation and development of typically developed limestone grasslands with their characteristic vegetation and fauna. 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 help ensure the coherence and implementation of the European Natura 2000 system of protected areas .

natural reserve

Parts of the areas in the NSG belong to the NRW Foundation . The NSG is largely guarded by a shepherd on 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 .