Explore the plants and animals of the Trupbach Heath
On June 28, 2026, the University of Siegen, together with numerous partners, invites you to the 8th Biodiversity Day. This year’s event will take place at Trupbacher Heide. Among the highlights is a birds-of-prey flight show presented by the Bad Marienberg Falconry Center.
“You only love what you know, and you only protect what you love.” Under this motto, the Institute of Biology at the University of Siegen, together with various nature conservation organizations, is once again hosting a Biodiversity Day this year. The goal is to familiarize young people in particular with the topic of “biodiversity” and show them the treasures that nature offers right on their doorstep. This time, the focus is on the “Trupbacher Heide” National Natural Heritage Site—a heathland landscape atypical for the densely forested Siegerland region and home to many rare animal and plant species.
On June 28, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., anyone interested is invited to explore the Trupbacher Heide: Along a signposted, approximately 3.5-kilometer-long loop trail, experts from the university and various environmental organizations will provide information at a total of ten stations on topics related to the heathland, biodiversity, and nature.
“The Trupbacher Heide’s landscape has been shaped by decades of use as a military training area. At the same time, sheep have been grazed here in an environmentally sustainable manner to this day, ensuring that large areas remain open. This has allowed a unique landscape to develop here, featuring heathland, nutrient-poor meadows, and small ponds, home to many animal and plant species not found elsewhere in our region,” explains Dr. Urs Gießelmann from the Institute of Biology.
Visitors can learn exactly which insects, amphibians, birds, and other animals and plants live on the Trupbach Heath at the various activity and information booths. Other topics include grazing management and special maintenance measures on the heath.
“The common goal of all stakeholders is to raise awareness among people about the unique features of nature in their own region. Ignorance quickly leads to disinterest—both pose a major threat to biodiversity. We want to do something about this, right here on the ground, as vividly and engagingly as possible,” says the initiator of Biodiversity Day in the Siegen-Wittgenstein district, Prof. Dr. Klaudia Witte.
The day will be opened at 11 a.m. by Prof. Witte at the former soccer field above Trupbach. Welcoming remarks will be given by Deputy District Administrator Ursula Belz, the Deputy Mayor of the City of Siegen, Désirée Schütz, the Mayor of Freudenberg, Nicole Reschke, as well as Christoph Eickelmann and Christiane Stötzel-Ditsche from the NRW Foundation, which is organizing the Day of Biological Diversity together with the University of Siegen and celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.
Immediately following the official welcome, the Bad Marienberg Falconry Center’s birds-of-prey flight show will begin on a nearby meadow. Children can then learn lots of new things and win exciting prizes during a scavenger hunt along the route. Refreshments will be provided by the Trupbach Heritage Society with waffles from the oven and the Küthe Sheep Farm with grilled meat.
Everything at a glance
For more information:
The event is organized by the Institute of Biology at the University of Siegen in collaboration with the NRW Foundation, NABU, and the Siegen-Wittgenstein district. Also participating this year are: The State Forestry and Timber Agency, the Sauerland-Rothaargebirge Nature Park, the Siegen-Wittgenstein Biological Station, the Trupbach Local History Association, the Bad Marienberg Falconry, the Küthe Sheep Farm, the Siegen-Wittgenstein District Hunting Association, and Klimawelten Hilchenbach.
