Natural history trail
"Bredower Forst"
The Bredower Forst Geobasis DE/LGB, dl-delby-2-0
Review - the nature trail
The structurally rich forest area called
"Brieselang" has been a popular destination for nature lovers since
the 19th century. The southern part of the Brieselanger Forest was once part of
the Bredow estate and is known as the "Bredower Forest". On July 11, 1930, the Museum of Natural History at the
University of Berlin and the Prussian State Agency for the Preservation of
Natural Monuments opened a nature trail in the "Bredower Forest" that
explained nature with signposted stations. At the time, it was the first nature
trail in Germany and was considered a model for natural history hiking trails. The nature trail was abandoned in 1938 and fell into
disrepair. On July 30, 1957, the forest area was declared a forest
reserve and on March 30, 1961 a nature reserve. Today the reserve covers an area of around 250 hectares.
Revitalization - The natural history trail
In 1965 the nature and homeland friends of Falkensee,
organized in the German Cultural Association of the GDR under the leadership of
Gerhard Zimmermann (1911-1999), took on the orphaned nature trail. The
"Bredower Forest Natural History Trail" was created on a voluntary
basis with a slightly different route. The work was completed in 1971. A brochure that appeared as an annex to the city of
Falkensee's annual cultural plan in 1971 provided information about the
approximately three-kilometer-long hiking trail. Here it was described what the
visitor can discover to the right and left of the path and the importance of
nature and the environment in socialist society. The brochure promotes
awareness in dealing with and preserving the unique nature that surrounds
us.
Reminder
In 2006, the municipality of Brieselang, together with
the city of Falkensee and the responsible forestry office, decided to renovate
the natural history trail. The impetus for this came from private initiatives. Since September 29, 2006, a boulder on the highest
elevation, the so-called "Snow White Mountains", has been a reminder
of the history of the first nature trail in Germany. Today's nature trail still describes a unique natural
area and calls for the preservation and care of the diverse nature that
surrounds us.
Map with 16 stations on the natural history trail
"Bredower Forst", 1971 Archive Museum Falkensee The nature trail memorial stone at station no.7 Photo Gerd Bitterhoff, Archive Museum Falkensee
The voluntary nature and homeland friends Horst Schreiber
(l.) And Arno Ludwig (r.) At the entrance sign of the natural history
educational trail. Photo 1965, Archive Museum Falkensee
