Der breite Eschel Nature Reserve
A small nature reserve of just over 3 hectares west of the Kempen district of Voesch, protected since 1988.
The Der breite Eschel nature reserve lies west of the Kempen district of Voesch in the north of the Viersen district, just east of the Schlootkuhlen nature reserve. Across a good three hectares, it safeguards a near-natural water body with species-rich riparian fringes as a refuge for rare animals and plants.
At a Glance
- Type
- nature reserve (identifier VIE-027)
- Area
- around 3.39 ha
- Protected since
- 1988 (landscape plan legally effective 1989)
- Location
- west of the Voesch district, town of Kempen
- District
- Viersen (Bezirksregierung Düsseldorf, NRW)
- Protection status
- existing nature reserve
- Notable feature
- discovery of Fen Pondweed (2002)
Area comparison
Area compared with other Cologne parks and green spaces.
Conservation Objective
The central aim of the designation is to preserve a largely unpolluted water body with only moderate productivity. Along the western shore a pronounced belt of vegetation has developed – narrower along the other banks but likewise species-rich – which provides a habitat for rare plants and endangered animals. To maintain this sensitive condition, the introduction and discharge of substances that could alter the water's productivity is prohibited – expressly including fertilising with lime.
Landscape and Habitats
The greater part of the site is occupied by a horse-grazed grassland area with flood swards. Beside it lies a trapezoidal private pond created in 1993, reaching up to 13 metres deep; its water surface is covered with pond lilies and water lilies, fringed by a narrow band of sedges. Between the two areas runs the straightened Springbach, whose banks consist of tall herbs, meadow species and reed beds with reed canary grass and Lesser Pond Sedge. Black alders and willows surround the terrain, while non-native trees such as Robinia and sycamore maple were planted on the western and southern sides. To the west stand a small house with a garden and old white willows.
Flora and Fauna
The wetland is home to a number of endangered dragonfly and insect species, including the Dainty Damselfly, Small Red-eyed Damselfly, Variable Damselfly, Western Clubtail, Downy Emerald and the Large Gold Grasshopper. Among the plants, Bank Sedge, Water Crowfoot and Sharp-leaved Pondweed stand out. The grassland supports, among others, Mousetail (Myosurus minimus), Toad Rush and Jointed Rush (Juncus bufonius, Juncus articulatus), Slender Parsley Piert (Aphanes australis) and Marsh Yellowcress (Rorippa palustris).
Special Value
The site derives outstanding significance from the Fen Pondweed (Potamogeton coloratus), recorded in 2002 during a diving survey. This species occurs only in tightly limited areas of the Niederrheinisches Tiefland and underscores the value of the near-natural water body.
Gallery
Map
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Address
Voesch 97
47906 Kempen
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Sources & links
- Wikidata (retrieved 2026-07-09)
- Wikipedia (retrieved 2026-07-09)
- nsg.naturschutzinformationen.nrw.de (retrieved 2026-07-10)
Auto-generated, last verified: 2026-07-10
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