Nature photography Teutoburg Forest

For better orientation, I have attached an overview map on the left (for more details, please click on the map on the left). If you want to visit the southern part of the Teutoburg Forest, the best way to reach the forest is via the A2 motorway. On the other hand, the northern part of the Teutoburg Forest, which is also commonly referred to as the Teuto, is better reached via the A1 motorway. Since I only know certain parts of this fairly large mountain range well, I will limit my travel report here to a few forest sections that I consider particularly worthwhile.
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The Furlbach valley is a nature reserve that is mostly located in the municipality of Schloß Holte-Stukenbrock. To the southeast of this forest area is the Senne military training area, which is used by British forces. To the southwest, the Stukenbrock Safari Park borders the Furlbach Valley. The quickest way to reach the Furlbach Valley is via the A33 motorway (exit 23, Stukenbrock-Senne) and driving in a northerly direction, then turning right onto "Am Furlbach" road after approximately 1.5 km (see directions). At the end of the road, there is a sharp left turn onto "Mittweg," and then you will arrive at the A3/A4 hiking trail, which leads you directly to the stream after a few meters. Unfortunately, there are virtually no parking facilities directly on site, so it is advisable to look for a parking space near the "Am Furlbach" restaurant.
The Furlbach, which winds its way through the valley for approximately 14.6 km, is a tributary of the Ems, which in turn originates nearby in the Senne. Upon encountering the creek for the first time, one will be amazed at how clear the water is in the shallow stream. This impression is further enhanced by looking at the clear bottom of the stream, which is made up of sandy substrate. The sand in the Senne is the result of the melting of a glacier approximately 200,000 years ago. At that time, the melting water carried large amounts of sand, which settled in the Senne, creating a very valuable habitat for flora and fauna. From a photographic perspective, the Furlbachtal offers many opportunities to showcase the stream amidst a mixed forest. At some points, one can take excellent photographs of the valley from above, while at other points, one can directly search for their motives by the creek. The flow rate of the creek is very low, giving the Furlbachtal a peaceful and tranquil atmosphere.
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For me, the Silberbach valley is one of the most beautiful parts of the Teutoburg Forest. The Silberbachtal is located on the eastern edge of the Teutoburg Forest, south of the small town of Horn-Bad Meinberg, and borders on the Eggegebirge Nature Park. You can reach the valley via the B1 federal highway, turn south onto "Leopoldstaler Straße," then onto "Neuer Teich," and follow the road to the end (see directions). At the end of the road, you will find a paid parking lot (daily fee: 2 €) and a guesthouse with overnight accommodations. If you want to save on parking fees, you can find a free parking lot a few hundred meters before reaching the paid parking lot.
The Silver Creek, meandering through the valley, originates in the southern Veldrom and flows approximately 11 km northward, where it ends in Horn-Bad Meinberg. As a nature photographer, I find the section that starts at the inn and continues approximately 1 km southwards the most interesting. It is a relatively small section, but one can find many subjects that can keep them occupied along this stretch. The creek is characterized by more or less large boulders that offer a preview of the neighboring Egge Mountains and can be set together with the creek very well. A visit is worthwhile in every season, and it is interesting to observe how the Silver Creek Valley changes its character over the year. Starting from the inn, a 3 km long hiking trail leads northwest towards the Externsteinen, which also offer plenty of photographic opportunities.
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As in any forest, mushrooms can be found in the Teutoburg Forest in every season. Since the Teutoburg Forest has very diverse areas, the types of mushrooms that can be found vary in different regions. The occurrence of different mushroom species depends not only on the trees present in a particular area but also on the soil types. For example, in the Sennelandschaft near Schloß Holte-Stukenbrock, due to the sandy forest soil, one can discover completely different mushrooms compared to the Osnabrück region of the Teutoburg Forest.
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