The name "Heidkopf" stands for the development of the Hochheide, which is now under nature protection (NSG Neuer Hagen). It is the largest and highest heath area in our country. And although it is a nature reserve, it is actually a relic of hard human intervention and a sign of the need of past centuries.
Apart from manure and liquid manure, there was no fertilizer in the past. Cows, cattle, sheep, goats and pigs had to feed in and from the forest in the summer months, since the valley meadows were used exclusively for hay production in winter. The village shepherd led her to the forest pasture every day. The young trees fell victim to the animals, the forest could not rejuvenate, and over the centuries bare areas developed on the mountains of the Sauerland. Mountain names such as Kahler Asten, Kahle Pön, Ka-Lied, Kahleberg and so on testify to this. Since the straw was used as a food supply for the animals in winter, the farmers moved to the bare areas and chopped off the top layer of plants so that they could be used as litter in the stables. The manure was spread over the fields as fertilizer. In favor of the soil in the fields, the forest floor became impoverished and plants settled that are satisfied with few nutrients, for example heather and berry bushes.
Here on the Heidkopf you can see the now beautiful and rare result of this past. Incidentally, this works particularly well from the Heidkop tower.