Image Copyright: Axel K�ppers

In the area of the district Viersen there are 37 nature reserves, among them the nature reserves 'Brachter Forest', 'Krickenbecker Lakes and Kleiner DeWitt Lake', 'Elmpter Schwalmbruch', 'Heidemoore', 'Lüsekamp and Boschbeek', 'Grasheide and Mühlhausener Benden', 'Salbruch' and 'Bockerter Heide'.

Photo: Elmpter Schwalmbruch

Image Copyright: Kurt Zich

The 57 landscape conservation areas are nearly one third of the district surface. The largest LSG is the 'Happelter Heathland' with 2.102,2 ha, the smallest the 'Kranenbachniederung' with 9,2 ha.

Furthermore there are 83 natural monument in the district area.

The district Viersen is characterised by diverse landscapes with forests, heathland and lakes. It offers a well developed hiking, cycling and riding path network.

Photo: Harik Lake


'The administration union 'Nature Reserve Schwalm-Nette' encompasses 435 sqkm of zones in the districts Kleve, Viersen and Heinsberg as well as the town Mönchengladbach. It was founded in 1965 and is also a partner of the 789 sqkm encompassing German-Dutch 'Nature Reserve Maas- Schwalm-Nette' since 1976. As a regional important recreation area its catchment area reaches well into the congested urban areas along the Rhine and Ruhr and as far as the neighbouring Netherlands'.

Source: Statistisches Jahrbuch der Kreis Viersen

Image Copyright: Axel K�ppers

If you stray off the tracks into specially protected areas like nature reserves you disturb the animals, which live there. The Lower Nature Conservation Authority district Viersen warns: Hikers hinder creatures raining their offspring or destroy rare and valuable plants. To avoid this the Federal Act for the Protection of Nature prohibits the leaving of signposted paths. On the floor laying dead wood with moss and mushrooms is important for the survival of small animals. Therefore the district Viersen appeals to everybody do take care of our woods and animals and do not take away any wood.
In the cold season fireplace owner often look for alternatives to the firewood from the DIY-superstores. Collecting wood offside from paths in the nature reserves is not the right solution. One option is to get a wood collection permit outside of nature reserves, which are available at private wood owners or from the ranger.

Image Copyright: NABU / Kreis Viersen

District Viersen. The bird of the year 2014 is a native to the district Viersen: The green woodpecker secured the title 'bird of the year' in 2014. The occasion of this tribute to the green woodpecker with the red cap was that its species is not endangered anymore.
Attentive observers have a good chance to discover the bird with its distinctive call, which seems similar to a laugh. 'Conditions for the green woodpecker are ideal in the district Viersen ideal', says Reinhard Bräutigam of the Lower Nature conservation
Authority of the district Viersen. The numerous wood and meadow surfaces are an ideal habitat for the green woodpecker. 'This is reflected in the stable stock figures in the last few years', says Stefani Pleines, ornithologist of the Biological Station Krickenbecker Lakes. The currently there roughly 150 breeding pairs in the district area. In the nature reserve Krickenbecker Lakes there are around 20 breeding pairs according to Stefani Pleines this year.
The colourful woodpeckers love to feed on ants, which they search for mostly on open grass surfaces. With its 10cm long tongue the bird even detects well hidden ants. Apart from the large open areas, which the woodpecker needs to feed old trees and dead wood are also very important. Here the bird with the nickname 'Zorro' builds his cavities.

Image Copyright: Stadt Nettetal

Biological Station Kreickenbecker Lakes

The information centre on the banks of the Krickenbecker Lakes.

More information is available here:

Biologische Station Krickenbecker Seen e. V.