Overview

15. February 2011

The Hehnes Meadows

Together with the Dieburg branch of NABU, Naturefund bought 12,565 square metres of a meadow in South Hesse. This area is the last missing section needed to turn the Hehneswiesen, a former large wetland back into its natural state.

Basic data of the Hehnes meadows

Location

South Hesse, close to the town of Groß-Umstadt

Size

12,565 square metres

Fauna

Tree Frog, Dusky Large Blue butterfly, Lapwing, Yellow Wagtail, Nightingale, Golden Oriole, European Stonechat, Grey Partridge and White Stork.

Migrating birds: Great White Egret, Greenshank, Eurasian Golden Plover, Northern Shoveler, Hen Harrier, Eurasian Hobby and numerous other species.

Following a 40-year absence, White Storks began breeding here again in 2002. Since then, they have successfully reared 22 young.

Flora

Large Pink, Water Avens, Meadow Saxifrage.

Backround

The Hehneswiesen are located close to the town of Groß-Umstadt and cover an area of around 47 hectares. In the past, the Hehneswiesen were a unique wetland area boasting a great variety of species. During the last century the land was increasingly drained and used intensively as pasture or farmland. As a result the meadow dried up and the unique variety of species disappeared.

The 12,565 square metres that we bought used to be privately owned and had been used intensively. The area lies at a point where two drainage ditches meet. With the purchase comes the unique chance to block the drainage system and turn a large section of the Hehneswiesen back into its natural state.

Partner

The owner of the land is now the Dieburg branch of NABU. Together with nature conservation authorities, it will block drainage ditches and manage the land in the long-term.

History

The Hehneswiesen were originally a wet meadow, covering more than 40 hectares. Unfortunately over the last 30 years an extensive drainage system had been implemented. It was the dedication of nature conservation organizations that first lead to a rethink. In recent years, sections of the land have been purchased and farmland has been turned back into meadow land.

The remainder of a rare plant species was saved and Large Pink began to grow here for the first time in decades. Tree frogs, Green frogs, various dragonfly species, the Dusky Large Blue butterfly and the Swallow-tail butterfly can now be found in the area.

Due to the presence of these endangered species and this habitat, the Hehneswiesen have been accepted into the European Union NATURA-2000 Network as part of the Unteren Gersprenz River area.

Management concept

Drainage ditches will be filled in and the meadow managed in the long-term. In the future, wet and fresh meadows together with grazing cattle, existing reed ditches, wet areas and hedges, should create a natural paradise.

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More about the Large Blue butterfly

More about the Hehnes meadows

More about the flower Large Pink

Overview