Hollweg Kümpers & Comp. KG

Objective

In today’s common landscape, barren areas are extremely rare. But many of the endangered species need exactly these (basic) conditions for their survival.

Context

At the Gravenhorst quarry, belonging to the Hollweg, Kümpers & Comp. KG, a subsidiary of the Basalt-Actien-Gesellschaft company, sandstone had been mined and processed into aggregates until 1968.

By abandonment of a recultivation with topsoil, a unique habitat for endangered species developed by natural succession.

Solution

In the course of the renaturation, among other projects, barren areas with erica as well as a shallow water of approximately 1000 m² were generated.

Result

The area, which comprises in total about 25 hectares, was – due to its unique variety of different living spaces – declared a nature reserve in 1998.

More than 150 plant species, 55 species of bird and over 50 further animal species can be observed.