Bommecketal nature reserve

Not far from the Lenne, a spring stream has cut its way into the rock, creating a different little world with remarkable flora and fauna and a quiet aesthetic all of its own. The protected Kerbtal valley with its impressive cliffs, numerous rapids and small waterfalls offers recreation. Gorse bushes, birch trees and blueberry bushes break up the shady spruce, beech and oak forests time and again. Admire the large ferns and diverse moss species that cover the forest floor like a carpet and the rich fauna with fire salamanders, lesser spotted woodpeckers, frogs and more than 900 species of beetle. Imposing rocks on the steep wooded mountain slopes and numerous rock steps in the course of the stream give the valley its canyon forest character. In the lower section, the stream gushes over rocky banks, forming rapids and whirlpools. Finally, the water roars down to the valley through a shady narrow gorge.
Bommecketalmeans "stream surrounded by trees" - and that is exactly what a walk through the Bommecketaloffers: wild forests and lots of water.

Habitat for species from much higher altitudesThe

Bommecketal is the preferred habitat of species that depend on cool, very clean water with a high oxygen content. These are rare, often inconspicuous species such as brook snails and spring snails, alpine planarians and midges and their larvae or certain mosses associated with torrents. In the Bommecke and some spring streams, a rare crustose red algae forms extensive blood-red deposits on alternately moist rock. Due to the gorge-like character of the north-facing notch valley, species can be found that are normally only found at much higher altitudes. The valley has now become a refuge for a large number of montane species, and

the fire salamander is a characteristic animal with a year-round habitat there. Its larvae grow in the clear mountain waters. It hibernates in the old mine tunnels, as do several species of bats. Yellow shield fern and spotted fern typically grow on the rocky ledges. Habitat-typical bird species for the Bommecketal are the dipper and grey wagtail.