Mountain meadow trail in Altastenberg

Did you know that mountain meadows are among the most species-rich plant communities in North Rhine-Westphalia? The colorful mountain meadows, the so-called "golden oat meadows", are something very special. In their characteristic composition, with all the mountain herbs, they can only be found in the high altitudes of the Eifel and Sauerland.

The flowering splendor of the mountain meadows is particularly magnificent in the second half of May until the mowing in July. But even during the hay harvest, the post-flowering period and in Indian summer, the meadows are always worth seeing right through to the fall.

The flower-rich mountain meadows and Weides are a true paradise for butterflies, grasshoppers and many other animals.

Bristle grass meadows are the "grazed brother" of the mountain meadows. The rough bristle grass, which is spurned by cattle, gave this unique habitat its name. A well-known medicinal plant with bright golden-yellow flowers blooms here: arnica or mountain arnica, as it is also known. It and many other species of mountain meadows and pastures can reclaim their habitat with the support of the LIFE project "Mountain Meadows near Winterberg".

The Heids on the barren soils of the mountain tops were created by centuries of grazing. With the help of the LIFE project, goats and sheep are once again busy tending the landscape and preserving the Heid.