The WAS IST WAS tree diversity trail on the Lattenberg

In the heart of the Arnsberg Forest nature reserve, there is another highlight and attractive nature education programme: the tree diversity trail on the Lattenberg. This ambitious project by the WEPA Foundation in co-operation with Wald und Holz NRW conveys the ecological importance of the forest in an impressive way. With the forest nature trail, the WEPA Foundation is combining its two fields of action of lifelong learning and sustainability in a special way - and is starting from the fact that responsible behaviour requires an understanding of how our actions affect our environment and nature.

Two carefully designed circular trails, two and four kilometres in length, lead through a living world of different tree species, lush vegetation and diverse wildlife. The educational concept was developed together with WAS IST WAS, the well-known provider of non-fiction books for children and young people in Germany. 

There are over ten informative boards with exciting facts and amazing details about the local flora and fauna to discover. Special search tasks also encourage visitors to explore the forest for themselves. Additional audio information can be accessed via a QR code, which deepens the forest experience and makes ecological relationships tangible. 

‘With the tree diversity trail, we want to sensitise children and young people to the special importance of the forest. Through hands-on activities, knowledge can be experienced and thus permanently anchored. This promotes sustainable individual skills and an understanding of nature conservation,’ says Ingmar Lohmann, Chairman of the WEPA Foundation. 

The Tree Diversity Trail is an experience at any time of year and can now be explored independently with family and friends or with the South Westphalia Rangers, who are trained as nature and landscape conservationists. Under their experienced guidance, schoolchildren can also discover the diversity of the forest as part of a class group. These forest tours are free of charge and can be booked at Umweltbildung Südwestfalen. The collected leaves, needles, cones and fruit can be documented in a tree album and will serve as a reminder of the experience beyond the hike. 

For young and old alike, the nature trail creates a deeper understanding of our environment in an entertaining way - and combines this with education for sustainable development. Experience nature with all your senses and immerse yourself in the fascination of our forests on the tree diversity trail on the Lattenberg between Oeventrop and Hirschberg.

Also coming soon: the ForestLab. Close to the tree diversity trail, a unique extracurricular learning centre for school classes is being created where knowledge about ecological sustainability can be deepened and expanded.