Lüneburg Heath Nature Park covers some 1070 square kilometers and is located in northern Lower Saxony. Conservationists have been active since the early 20th century in protecting this cultural landscape.

The common heather, whose Latin name is Calluna vulgaris, but is commonly referred to as Erica is a real botanical eye-catcher. A low growing perennial shrub with purple flowers which can survive up to 40 years on sandy ground.

The heath was named after the city of Lüneburg, located some 50 kilometers to the south-east of Hamburg on the edge of the heath. The old trading city boasts a lot of historical architecture: some 1,300 brick houses are protected buildings.

The lower Saxon cultural landscape with its sandy paths and cobble-stoned roads can be explored on some 150 horse-drawn coaches that are popular ride.

Since early August police have again been patrolling the Nature Reserve on horseback. Until 6th October they are to keep things in order and also be available to help hikers who've got lost on the heath. Mounted police have been deployed to protect this nature reserve since the 1950s.

Traditional Lüneburg basket beekeeping involves beehives made of plaited straw baskets, using heath land flowers. The baskets are regularly moved to worthwhile feeding areas rich in nectar which the bees in turn use produce the much sought after heath honey.

Volunteers help take care and protect the heath. The Lüneburg Heath Nature Park offers a short training to help people qualify to become recognized nature and landscape guides. Especially when the heath is in boom lots of helpers are needed.

The local breed of moorland sheep, called Heidschnucke, ensures that the Lüneburg Heath, man-made by deforestation and grazing, remains in its current state. Without them the area would quickly be overgrown with trees and shrubs and the heath would vanish within a decade.