In Ahlen, HeimatERBE took over the Bergehalde Ost Westfalen 1/2 area at the turn of the year 2020/2021 and is pursuing the goal here, as well as at other locations, of creating a powerful and diverse biotope complex through renaturation measures. In the last 1.5 years, experts from HeimatERBE have carried out various dismantling and repair work. In addition, an entry concept including an environmental educational path was designed so that people and nature can meet. Companies can actively compensate for negative ecological effects and consequences of their business there.

Project Profile:

Location: Ahlen, Warendorf   

Size:   73.9 ha

History: tailings dump of the Westphalia colliery (Osthalde), end of operations in 2000 

Current use:  mainly recultivated, forestry

Work & Renaturation goals: 
– Demolition of the remaining sealing, comprehensive waste disposal
– Review of the afforested stocks in terms of naturalness and climate resilience
– Careful conversion into more natural forest communities
– Replanting of climate-resistant species
– Preservation and development of a species-rich, dry-warm, semi-open landscape on the plateaus and south-facing slopes
– Preservation and development of a nutrient-poor, waterlogged to swampy open land area at the south-western foot of the heap
– Creation of hedges and bushes