Wietze: Hornbosteler Hutweide nature reserve

Experience nature in a historic landscape: Heck cattle on Hornbosteler Hutweide

The Aller cycle path
leads you directly past an attraction that is unique in this form in the
district of Celle.

A special natural kingdom

Hornbostel on the
Aller has a special "natural kingdom": the pasture on which the
villagers have kept their cattle for centuries. The magical parkland with old, stately
oaks in the meadow pasture, woodlands, heaths and juniper groves is today home
to white storks and dragonflies, wild pansies and flowering rushes.

There are more
reasons for preserving the last typical pasture landscape in the district Celle
than its function as an idyllic excursion area and for reasons of species and
biotope protection. The pasture area in the lowlands of the River Aller is also
significant from the viewpoint of local history and cultural history.

Grazing pasture under threat

The village of
Hornbostel has just remaining dairy farm that is no longer able to graze the
pasture in the traditional manner. However, the heath changes wherever animals
no longer graze:

• Rare species of
plants and animals disappear (such as the white stork)

• Juniper heaths give
in to the competition of other trees

• Non-native plants
take a hold

Protection for the pasture

Large parts of the
Aller lowlands and thus the Hornbosteler Hutweide today carry the predicate
"Natura 2000" area awarded by the European Fauna Flora Habitat (FFH)
Directive. Special forms of oak forests and juniper stocks are considered
European natural heritage, as are species such as otters and white storks.
Since 2004, 176 hectares of pasture land has been designated as a nature
reserve. The grazing project is a logical step towards achieving the permanent
protection of the pasture and a uniquely natural experience.

One of Europe's most beautiful dragonflies, the
Green Hawker, is at home here. The species threatened by extinction can be
observed here from mid-July to September, especially in the evening when
hunting.

The white stork pair that broods every year
in the village of Hornbostel finds food for its offspring on the adjacent
pastures. The nest on the "Heidebäckerei" bakery on
Helene-Segelke-Platz has been regularly occupied in recent years. In some years
the first storks return to the numerous stork nests in the Aller-Leine valley
after the winter as early as February / March. Storks and their way of life are
best observed in the months of April - July.

Animal teamwork

Heck cattle have maintained the
Hornbosteler Hut pasture naturally and cost-effectively since taking up their
work in 2009. They are robust grazing animals with a particular suitability for
the year-round field service that share the work: depending on the season, they
eat grass or leaves, bark and delicate twigs. Some trees, however, defend
themselves with thorns (such as the blackthorn) and thus protect young oaks.
Thus, the pasture landscape remains varied and open. A local farmer has taken on
the task of caring for the animals on two fenced paddocks.

On the trail of the aurochs

Heck cattle are a
breed of 15 cattle breeds in the image of the Aurochs that died out almost 300
years ago. Significantly smaller and with shorter legs and thinner horns with
less of an inward curve, Heck cattle are just as tough as its ancestor, the
aurochs. These animals are ideal for year-round use in the grazing project on
the Aller. And the herd evidently feels at home here, given the abundant
numbers of offspring.

Getting there:

By car / on foot: park at
Helene-Segelke-Platz in Hornbostel village centre. Follow Dorfstrasse and then
Schleusenweg towards Bannetze lock. You will find an information board (about the Aller cycle path) with details about the pasture area. The lock provides an
excellent upstream view of the pasture land.

By bike: The Aller cycle
path takes you next to the pasture between Bannetze lock and the juniper tree park.
You can get to Bannetze lock by cycling from Hornbostel / Helene-Segelke-Platz
on the village road, taking a left turn into Schleusenweg and then following it
following towards Bannetze lock.

Hiking on Hornbosteler Hutweide: There is currently no signposted circular route. However, there
are some options for hiking through the nature reserve of Hornbosteler Hutweide:

• Guided nature hikes take place on selected dates (usually April to
October), during which you can complete a full circle of the pasture. Parts of
these guided tours lead through the reserve on unpaved paths which may
otherwise not be used. (Please pay attention to the announcements in our event
calendar)

• Suggestion for an unmarked circular walk (about 6 km) from / to the car park at Helene-Segelke-Platz
in Hornbostel: eastwards on Dorfstrasse-Schleusenweg-Bannetze lock-Aller cycle
path to the weather hut / rest area / viewpoint - continue on the Aller cycle
path through Hutewald – take the turn-off to Blaue Brücke (cul-de-sac) to the Aller
– continue on the Aller cycle path to the forest edge - turn right (field
track) – turn left onto Wendtchaussee – turn left again and follow Dorfstrasse
back to the car park.