Our forest
Heidehof forest
HISTORY
JÜTERBOG OST military training area
total size: 11,940 ha
- started to be used during the German Imperial era. Former farming areas with poor yields were sold to the military. Heidehof was a farm at that time.
- destroyed by a large forest fire which is suspected to have been set deliberately in 1943 – started to establish the planned large-scale military training area by the Waffen SS
- 1945 taken over by the Red Army and the area expanded
- intensive military use as a military training area, including as part of the Warsaw Pact, with chemical training areas, an airstrip, an artillery/tank/rocket/air/ground firing range as well as a large tank exercise area. Last tank firing exercise was in 1992.
Heidehof Forest
The company Wald- und Grundbesitz GmbH acquired the Heidehof plot, as Lot 1 of the whole former military training area, Heidehof-Jüterbog Ost (size: 11,940 ha) on October 12, 2006 from the State of Brandenburg via the real estate company Brandenburgische Bodengesellschaft, as "Heidehof Forest".
Heidehof Forest (Lot 1) – a consolidated area of forestry covering approx.. 1,450 ha, roughly 100 km south of Berlin, is situated in the district of Teltow-Fläming. The forested area is located on the western boundary of the former military training area in the districts of Kolzenburg, Neuhof, Werder and Markendorf. The site forms the eastern spur of the “Fläming” growing area and the “Fläming-Altmoränenland” growing district, combining a hilly area of terminal moraine landscape with gently-rolling ground moraines.
This area is home to the 1,200 ha nature conservation area “Heidehof-Golmberg”, one of the biggest inland dune areas in Germany, with expansive sandy heathland and emerging forests comprising pine, birch, aspen and oak. Around 240 ha in the south-eastern area lie outside this nature conservation area.
Over the past 10 years, a comprehensive network of forest roads cleared of munitions has been created. There has been a significant investment of labor and finance committed to preventive fire safety, road building and clearance of munitions and waste materials. In addition, firebreaks have been created along the outer boundaries to protect local villages. Wald- und Grundbesitz GmbH maintains good contacts with the neighbouring population and the responsible authorities, who are appreciative and supportive of our efforts. We have particularly good relations with the local volunteer fire brigades and the Teltow-Fläming district Fire Chief, meaning that rapid action can be taken in the event of fire or disasters.
TREE SPECIES DISTRIBUTION
