Juniper Heaths in the Eifel

The juniper heaths are a real "insider tip" in the Vordereifel region. They were created through a special form of farming, known as "Schiffelwirtschaft" (ship-farming), and today are home to a variety of protected animal and plant species. Sheep and goats were kept here from time immemorial until the end of the 1950s. However, because the areas could not be fertilized for cost reasons, more and more nutrients were extracted from the soil. As a result, habitats for undemanding and now very rare animal and plant species have developed here over the centuries.These rare and partially protected species include birds such as the hazel grouse, woodlark, kite, red-backed shrike, sparrowhawk, meadow pipit, and great grey shrike; insects such as the bramble hairstreak, the large tortoiseshell butterfly, and the fritillary butterfly; many other butterflies and beetles; as well as plants such as juniper, heather, narcissus, arnica, orchids, wood hyacinths, and similarly rare plants that prefer dry and lean open land habitats.Because traditional agricultural use of these areas has ceased, and fast-growing plants such as broom, blackberries, and birch threaten to displace the protected species, extensive management and protection measures are necessary to preserve these habitats.

One of the most beautiful hiking tours through the Vinxtbachtal