TERRA.track: Kellenberg

We choose the hiking parking lot "Dinosaur Tracks" as our starting point in the Bad Essen municipal area and reach our route via a short access path, which we want to follow clockwise. Immediately the fresher air and the shade of the trees become noticeable; so the slight ascent at the beginning is not difficult. Soon we notice information boards placed parallel to the path that describe at irregular intervals which tree species were planted here for what purpose—and when. For example, we pass a plot with English oaks that have been growing here since 1822 and are allowed to remain as an "old wood island" for the next 800 years so that throughout their "natural life" of 1000 years they can provide many animal species with a home, protection, and food.

Commercial forest with shhh... character

Well-developed forest paths enable us to proceed unhindered on our route; the predominant forest type here is coniferous forest with spruce or pine—and in an extremely vital state! It smells of the essential substances from bark, needles, and leaves—called terpenes, which have been proven to reduce stress and promote health. We are completely stress-free, and it also strikes us that the noise level is like zero, if you want to ignore the tapping of a woodpecker or the rustling of a red-backed mouse.

Besides some wilderness areas, old-growth stocks, grassland, and fields, we are walking through classic commercial forest. A large part of the forest area, partly divided into small plots, is privately owned, but the Lower Saxony State Forests also manage a respectable share in Kellenberg. So: the forest here is used commercially. This has tradition, evidenced also by numerous hollow ways or overgrown coppice forest.

Landscape change with "perspective"

We head straight toward a large area where massive logging has taken place. This opens up unforeseen perspectives for us but is based on catastrophic events: what the hurricane Friederike started in 2018 was continued by the following drought periods and massive infestation of pests in the spruce stock. Many wood piles line our further path, which we continue northward. But we also see: in many places nature has already reclaimed the area and is creating new habitats. Later, the path marking directs us to continue southward, and we walk, still shaded by mixed forest, parallel to the meandering Glanebach, which flows into the Hunte and offers quite different natural spaces with its stream and shore structure.

Between grassland and forest edges, we continue our path over the Great Kellenberg and approach our first detour, the Green Lake. Beforehand, however, we go downhill for quite a while through now also lighter forest before crossing Kellenbergstraße to take a look at this geotope and enjoy a short break.

Niagara says hello: The Green Lake and its cascades

Well, the waterfall here isn't quite that impressive—but it may call itself the "largest waterfall in the Wiehengebirge" with its cascade-like fall and a drop height of 5 m. Idyllic is this place of "superlatives" in any case and it attracts quite a few visitors as part of the Green Lake ensemble. However, those looking for undisturbed quiet and lying places or even a suitable swimming entry point will be disappointed: the terrain is too difficult, the surroundings too rocky, the shore too steep and the lake too cold. Until the 1930s it was a small quarry, gradually filled with rain and groundwater and then gained a reputation as Green Lake due to dissolved minerals such as calcium carbonate. The view from above is beautiful and very relaxing: a few steps up and you can enjoy the scene and rest in or at the lake hut.

Unfortunately, on our hiking day the hut is closed; we would have had more luck on Fridays and Sundays—an individual appointment is also possible. We use the seating available for a refreshment and then retreat to the TERRA.track Kellenberg.

It doesn't get any greener…

Determinedly, we tackle another short section along the district road, cross it, and reach a truly picturesque section of our tour. Here our track shares the route with the Wittekindsweg, which runs here on the southern ridge of the Wiehengebirge. We look at the settlement of Thörenwinkel with the historic house Kellenberg as part of the Evangelical Lutheran Hünenburg Foundation and other farms. After the numerous tree species, meadows, and fields as well as the water just described have already richly delighted us with green shades, we have to say here: it doesn't get any greener! We move uphill and on shady paths through magnificent beech forest. We briefly remember: the beech in old times was considered a symbol of protection ("...you should look for beeches."), vitality, and life force. Well, we really feel magnificent at this moment! The forest stays with us on our last section and even holds a remarkable view for us, for which we have to stray a bit from our path: we enjoy the view into the Buer parish comfortably in the already much-cited green and sitting at 145 m above sea level. Back at the start point of our tour, we still have enough energy for our second detour to a truly magnificent geological highlight.

Finally, a lizard drama?

If we had today's climate that prevailed in our region 150 million years ago, we would have sweated even more while hiking. Because at that time, there was rather a tropical climate and we would have been in a beach-like landscape. This area was already traversed then by at least twelve dinosaurs of two kinds: a herd of herbivorous Camarasaurus and two carnivorous Megalosaurus. The prehistoric chase scene that is often superimposed here is pure fantasy, however. The fact is, they all left their traces in the soft ground. These were discovered in 1921 in the Jurassic quarry and stand today "upright." Why, that and more is all vividly explained on the TERRA.vita information boards.