Lippe Floodplains

Pure nature, simply wonderful.

The Lippe floodplains are the largest nature reserve in the district of Recklinghausen, covering 2,200 hectares. The floodplain area was placed under protection in 1995 as part of the NRW floodplain program, and today the floodplain is largely used for agricultural purposes. As a typical lowland river, the Lippe still flows through the landscape in wide meanders. In many places in the floodplain areas, floodplain forests have been preserved. Old river arms, especially in Datteln and north of Marl, are characterized by fen forests, reed beds and sedge marshes. The agriculturally used part of the floodplain, with its numerous hedges, rows of trees and pollarded trees, offers an impressive example of the typical Münsterland park landscape. This diversely structured landscape is an ideal habitat for numerous plants and animals. Kingfishers, bitterns, nightingales and many other bird species, including the marsh harrier, find space here.

In some places you can drive on the dike along the Lippe.