The green surroundings of Sauerland, Germany by Marjolein Zijlstra

Sauerland, Germany, holiday region within 1 day's drive from anywhere in the Netherlands. Large, wide, green, nature in abundance, streams, rivers, hills, mountains and many villages and towns with recognisable and interesting history. For walking, hiking, climbing, water sports, cycling or just touring by car through the entire region, this is a wonderful place to stay for a few days or longer. 's winter known for cross-country skiing, region Winterberg, a reasonable snow guarantee in mid-winter. Also the landscape of growing Christmas trees. Many slopes long as soldiers line up Christmas trees in different vintages ready for sale. Walking through this area teaches yes to look at the Christmas tree differently. It is overwhelmingly a cultivated product, basically an agricultural product, involving a long-term growing process. And then there are large plantation forests that are overwhelmingly also for just one thing, and that is timber production. Monotype forests, trees tightly lined up, close together making the trunks and tree crowns nice and straight up looking for that one little hole of light in the darkness. After felling, giant plots of bare ground are created where seeds eventually regain light, air and water and germinate, briefly colouring the landscape into a motley collection of pioneer plants. Eventually, after more than a year, replanting of the new batch of logging takes place years into the future. In that meantime, the planted forest is once again the domain of deer, boar and other small and big game.