Hut und Weide in der Heide

2003

S. 707-712

37 Lit. Ang.

Artikel aus einer Zeitschrift

200108588

As early as in early medieval times wooded areas have been used as pasturegrounds, that is how the "Hutewald" emerged. It kept as an ancient right mainly in Lower Saxony and Westphalia. From medieval times upt to the 19th century pasturegrounds in the woods were of vital importance for the farmers. Intensity and extension of wooded pasturegrounds were closely connected with the density of population. This again was influenced by worsening of the climate, tiring out of the soil, famines and epidemics. The term "Hut und Weide" meant the right to let livestock grass on the village green and in the woods. Farmers had to right to let their livestock grass in practically all the woods in the Lüneburger Heath. The cattle they kept were small and modest animals that produced only small amounts of milk and meat. Besides cattle horses, sheep and goats were driven into the woods. Herdsmen tended the livestock in the woods and on the cattletracks. The livestock destroyed young trees and damaged older trees and other plants. That is the reason why at the beginning of the 19th century barren areas spread for miles. The only surviving plants were bushes and heath. In the 19th century pasture rights were replaced. Vast fiscal areas were given up and that led to great losses of woods. Only in the second half of the 19th century heath and barren areas were afforested and forests increased. the devastation of woods was stopped, the forests were managed well and yielded more wood. The wooded areas in the Lüneburg Heath that made up 8 % around 1800 increased and make up 30 % today.