The wooded meadow valleys so typical of the Sauerland are the result of centuries of human use. Along the streams, the valley floor up to the slopes of the mountains was cleared and painstakingly converted into grassland. The meadows were usually mowed once or twice a year and were not allowed to be used for grazing cattle during this time. Today, the forest meadow valleys are important habitats for many endangered animal and plant species.
Actually atypical for the Sauerland
The Hilbringse valley is a typical wooded meadow valley.