Lütjenholmer Heidedünen in Schleswig-Holstein

This site is located in the district of North Frisia at the confluence of the rivers Goldebeker Kühlenstrom and the Soholmer Au. It covers 16.6 hectares and has been designated as a nature reserve since 1938. The Lütjenholmer Heidedünen (heath dunes) are off the beaten track and can only be reached via a field path. More than 100 years ago, heath predominated as a characteristic vegetation type on the Schleswigian Geest and covered up to 80% of the area in some communities. Today, most of these areas have been converted into farmland; a smaller part has been afforested. The small remaining areas are located in nature conservation areas; partially heath can also be found at the edges and in clearings of windbreaks or forests. The aim of the protection of several small areas in North Frisia was to safeguard the formerly predominant heath formation.

Simone Niklas has been supporting DINA since spring 2020. Mrs. Niklas, a North Frisian by choice since 1996, settled here to set up an "alternative" animal shelter for large and small animals on an old farm in an outdoor location. Approximately 16 hectares of grassland are cultivated. Today it is the largest animal shelter in northern Schleswig-Holstein and a training center for animal keepers. Their work at the shelter (about 8 hours a day) is still purely voluntary as she earns her income as a farrier.

In her limited free time, the mushroom expert prefers to be out in nature.

The Lütjenholmer Heidedünen is only 4 km away from the farm and offers a number of beautiful and also rare mushrooms.

In 2004, she founded the association “Natur-und Pferde Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe e.V.”, which is affiliated to the animal shelter and the farm. The association looks after bees in the approximately 5000 sqm garden, which propagates and sells/gives away insect-friendly perennials and trees, offers ornithological tours in the heath dunes, mushroom walks, and much more. This year, the association reforested a small piece of forest, which was bought by the association and cleared of rubbish.