Tips for walks through forests and meadows

The forest is of great importance as a habitat for various animal and plant species. But it also plays a crucial role for us humans in terms of the environment and climate. It is therefore all the more important that we constantly remind ourselves of the relevance of the forest and observe certain rules and limits when interacting with nature.

On your next trip to the forest, you will inevitably encounter a wide variety of animals and sometimes even other walkers. You should always remember that the forest is home to hares, deer and other animals. You should therefore behave accordingly and take care of the animals' habitat. This also means not disturbing their peace and quiet. So enjoy the beautiful forest atmosphere, stay on the paths and observe the animals from a distance.

Extra tip: Follow the forester's instructions

Timber harvesting, hunting, nature and species conservation - there is always a lot to do in the forest. The forester responsible for the respective forest area is responsible for the often quite dangerous work. So if you are in the forest on your next walk, it is important that you do not obstruct forestry work and that you take the instructions of the forester and the forest administration seriously at all times.

Depending on the duration and climate, a walk or hike through woods and meadows can be quite strenuous. That's why a refreshment or reward should not be missing from the planning. A picnic in the countryside is often the ideal solution. The snacks you bring with you can be eaten on a wooden bench, for example, depending on your mood. You can also make a campfire or even spend the night in a tent in designated areas. However, you should also find out about this in advance, as there are other rules and prohibitions in many places in the interests of nature conservation.

Recipe tip: Daisies
If you have a salad with you, you can spice it up with a few daisies. They are edible and full of healthy vitamins. Simply collect a few flowers or leaves, rinse them briefly with water and then add them to the fresh salad.
Please note: The roots are not edible. You should also avoid collecting daisies on busy roads, in industrial areas and in the immediate vicinity of chemically sprayed fields. Here the daisies could be contaminated with harmful substances.

Picnic tip: Reusable containers
Pack your snacks in reusable containers, such as lunch boxes. This way you can simply take the empty containers home with you and don't create any rubbish.

Picnic tip: Make sure you dispose of waste appropriately
This point should go without saying and of course doesn't just apply when you're out in the countryside. Drink bottles, wrapping paper and other waste should either be disposed of in suitable bins at the side of the path or taken with you until you return home and disposed of there.

In general, everyone is allowed to move freely in nature for recreational purposes. However, it is important to observe a few rules. For example, it is important that you follow designated paths and respect signposting, for example in the interests of animal welfare. Fawns and other wild animals often lie alone in meadows and are often unnecessarily startled by reckless behaviour. For this reason, it is also very important that dogs are always kept on a lead and do not run around freely. Apart from this, there are also some private properties or forage meadows as well as farmland where you should refrain from activities such as a relaxed picnic.

Attention: Despite the general right of access, farmers are not happy to see walkers crossing their fields in certain months. This is because during the so-called utilisation period, agricultural land may only be entered on existing paths. In the case of arable land, this is the time between sowing or tilling and harvesting, while in the case of grassland (i.e. meadows) it is the time of growth. Frequent access to meadows by walkers damages the growth considerably. Grass growth is inhibited in the first growth phase due to trampling damage. Shortly before the harvest, the grass can be pressed down by walkers and thus not completely mown. For this reason, walking on agricultural land during the vegetation period, i.e. from March to September, should be avoided at all costs.