Aukrug Nature Park

The Akrug Nature Park is a 380 square kilometer nature park in the center of the federal state of Schleswig- Holstein in the Holstein region (circles Rendsburg -Eckernförde and Steinburg ). Carrier is a company formed by two circles.

Geographical Location

The nature park is located at Neumünster only a few kilometers west of the motorway A 7 In the area of the nature park occur two landscapes: the flat and pure loamy ground moraine and the much more structured Stauchendmoränenlandschaft that up to about 80 m above sea level. NN achieved.

Communities

The nature park includes the municipal districts or parts of the following 42 cities and towns:

Hamweddel, Embühren (partial range), Brinjahe, Stafstedt, Luhnstedt, Jevenstedt (partial range), Brammer, Bargstedt, Oldenhütten, Nienborstel, Remmels, Nindorf, Heinkenborstel, Tappen village, Rade b. Hohenwestedt, Morel, Gnutz (partial range), Hohenwestedt (partial range), Aukrug, Grauel, Meezen, Ehndorf (partial range), Arpsdorf (partial range), Nortorf (partial range) in Rendsburg -Eckernförde circle and

Silzen, Poyenberg, Hennstedt, Wiedenborstel, Sarlhusen, Peissen (partial range), Hohenlockstedt (partial range), Lockstedt, Oeschebüttel, Rade, Fitzbek, Willenscharen, Rosdorf, Störkathen, Mühlenbarbek (partial range), Kellinghusenstraße (partial range), Schlotfeld (partial range), Winseldorf (partial range) in the district of Steinburg.

Landscape

The landscape is dominated by moraines, forest, heath and a variety of ponds. The most important rivers in the nature park are the sturgeon with tributaries Kirchweddelbach, Bull Brook, Wegebek in the middle part the smaller Bünzau with their inlets Buckener Au, Fuhlenau, Höllenau, Chapel Bach, Tönsbek, Sellbek and Glasbek as well as in the northern part of the Brammer Au in the south.

Landscape at the passage grave " Kluesbarg " in Aukrug - Homfeld

View from the edge of the Bünzau Valley after Innien

Valley of Bünzau in Bünzen

Conservation

The natural forests with the typical for the Nature Park sources, rivers and ponds provide habitats for many endangered animal and plant species. Located in Aukrug are, inter alia, the black stork, the eagle owl, many species of bats, the red kite, the spadefoot toad and the Alpine newt. For Schleswig- Holstein unique are also the wild -grown Arnica meadows.

To take care of some areas Heck cattle are kept since 2002.

In 2001, the Naturschutzring Aukrug the Schrobach Foundation was established with the assistance eV. This merger of various conservation clubs the different interests of land users in the region to be together and leads an effective conservation work can be achieved. This approach has become known nationwide as Aukruger way. In its first year, the Naturschutzring could already perform or prepare several projects, including the rewetting of the Fourth Higher Moores.

Scenic attractions

• The trail through the nature reserve interfering Athens Heath
• Peissener the hole as geological feature
• The recreation forest at Boxberg
• The bottom trail in the woods at Bredenhoper Morel
• The nature reserve of forest Tönsheider
• The circular route through the Fourth Higher Moor in Aukrug - Böken

Tourism

The region is heavily developed and has an extensive network of riding, cycling and hiking trails. Due to the nature park is in the southern part of the cheese route. For walkers the Naturparkweg connects five national parks in Schleswig -Holstein. At the A 7 indicates a sub- panel direction over landscapes and attractions along the highways of the natural park.

Ponds in forest huts near Meezen

Bathe Seelust in Hennstedt

Höllenau behind the bridge in Aukrug - Böken

Sources and Literature

• Official Journal of Schleswig- Holstein 1998 p 684 Declaration on the Akrug Nature Park in the district of Rendsburg -Eckernförde