The core of the 20-hectare conservation area is made up of the two standing water bodies “Sandhauser Brake” and “Schwarze Brake”. As near-natural bodies of water, these are of great importance as a hunting habitat for numerous species of bats. In addition, with their sometimes extensive silting, reed and floating leaf zones, they form valuable biotopes for water-related creatures, e.g. for a species-rich dragonfly community.
The ponds are functionally supplemented by three structurally rich forest stands, each of which has a high proportion of oaks. Numerous old and cave trees create roosting sites for bats, so that the nature reserve offers a habitat for a total of seven species of this endangered group of mammals (noctule bat, serotine bat, pipistrelle bat, common pipistrelle, brown long-eared bat, water bat and pond bat).
Hedgerows and forest edges provide additional hunting habitats and also serve as important networking structures within the protected area and beyond.