The office of the Recklinghausen District Biological Station is located on the former farm "Hof Punsmann", which is situated in the middle of the Hohe Mark Westmünsterland Nature Park. The station has set itself the task of permanently preserving nature, native animals and plants, the natural and cultural landscape. New ponds and a learning/teaching garden have been created on the site. Stone and dry stone walls, cold frames, clay houses and farm fountains have been restored. Two orchards complete the picture.
The history
The Nature Park House emerged from the original farm "Hof Punsmann".
The main building dates back to 1848 and the farm was run by various tenants until 1924. In 1925 and 1926, the farm was converted into a forestry farm, with farming continuing as a sideline. In the following years, an orchard with around 180 fruit trees and beehives was planted.
In the middle of the 20th century, the farm was again extensively rebuilt and extended. Hof Punsmann had now regained its function as a purely agricultural business. Two tenants ran the farm until 1988 and expanded the business by leasing additional agricultural land.
In 1990, the Biological Station Kreis Recklinghausen e.V. was founded. The current owner, the Regionalverband Ruhrgebiet, made the site available to the association. Further conversion work followed to enable the use of today's nature park house.
Hohe Mark Nature Park
The Hohe Mark Nature Park is a glacial sandstone hill country. It is also one of the largest forest areas north of the Ruhr. Surprisingly close to the conurbations of North Rhine-Westphalia, it offers a variety of nature experiences over an area of 1977.81 km². Here you can discover green nature and experience the diversity of the Hohe Mark Nature Park.
