Nature is our host
Presse-Information | Schneverdingen, 9. Juli 2025
Anyone roaming through the vast open expanses of Camp Reinsehlen today encounters a special silence – and nature that appears untouched at first glance. Yet what seems simply beautiful to many guests is in fact the result of a deliberate interplay: natural diversity, historical influence, and a hotel operation that sees itself as part of the ecosystem. The hotel team acts according to this mindset every day, through thoughtful measures and consideration for everything that lives here.
Hotelcamp Reinsehlen is located in the middle of Germany's largest contiguous nutrient-poor grassland area – making it North Germany's largest prairie. The open landscape is so unusual that guests frequently describe feeling as if they were in the savanna in their reviews. Vastness, light, and virtually unobstructed horizons create a special atmosphere that surprises and slows down the pace of life.
However, this delicate balance requires protection: Many rare species such as the woodlark, red-backed shrike, or sand pink are native here. They rely on structure-rich transition zones, open sandy areas, and old woody plants. A central role is played by the diverse, partly unique plant life that grows exclusively on the grounds of the hotel camp.
In the legally protected biotope with its nutrient-poor soil, a fascinating variety unfolds from spring through autumn: Fragrant wild herbs, countless grass species, and numerous other plants in various shapes and colors characterize the landscape. In summer, maiden pinks and mountain sandwort gleam, while tall mulleins are visible from afar. During the late-summer heather blossom, fragrant carpets of wild thyme spread out as grasses sway in the wind. Yet plants are not the only ones to find a habitat here: Especially during the flowering period, numerous insects that rely on this specific flora abound. This also has far-reaching consequences for how the hotel camp's grounds are managed.
Green care with a sensitive touch
“We keep it beautiful, but intervene as little as possible in nature. Order is necessary – but not at any price,” says Till Reichelt, Head of Facility Management at Hotelcamp Reinsehlen. “Our guests come to us precisely because they appreciate the untouched nature, vastness, and tranquility of the landscape here. To keep it that way, one must handle this space with care. We do not view nature as a backdrop; she is our host. And we are a part of her.”
This mindset extends throughout the entire hotel operation. The sheep and goat herd of the neighboring shepherd is responsible for maintaining the heather and nutrient-poor grassland areas. Otherwise, only what is strictly necessary is mowed – an edge here, a transition zone there. The hotel team leaves wild meadows standing until they have finished blooming, as insects find food and habitat there. The team also takes a consciously gentle approach to maintaining paths, parking spaces, and room terraces: No chemical agents are used; instead, everything is done by hand. A weed burner is used only in exceptional cases. “Fundamentally: We want to exert as little influence on the surroundings as possible. This applies not only to plants, but to everything that lives here,” says Till Reichelt.
During the breeding and nesting season, the hotel advises its guests that the sensitive nutrient-poor grassland areas must not be entered. Furthermore, the paths to the rooms are designed so that animals and plants are not disturbed in their habitat. Rare ground-nesting birds such as the skylark, grey partridge, or woodlark nest directly in the open terrain – and rely on consideration. Even wasps' nests remain where they do not bother anyone. And to prevent birds from flying into large window panes, special stickers have been applied to them. “If an animal does happen to lose its way or get stranded, we naturally help,” explains Facility Manager Reichelt.
More than a backdrop: Sustainability as a principle
The careful handling of the environment is evident not only in landscape maintenance, but also in architecture and energy use: The low-rise buildings blend unobtrusively into nature. They are constructed with natural building materials such as wood, and some feature green roofs. For energy and heat generation, the hotel relies among other things on heat pumps and a combined heat and power plant, thereby reducing emissions. In the kitchen, cleaning services, and conference operations, the same principle applies: as regional, environmentally friendly, and minimally invasive as possible.
From the European nightjar to the moor frog: Biodiversity right at the doorstep
Further biotopes can be found near the hotel camp: Camp Reinsehlen directly adjoins the heather areas in the Osterheide, and the Pietzmoor bog is also nearby. Anyone out and about here might, with a little luck, discover a boreal owl, an adder, or even the rare moor frog, which shimmers blue during the mating season. Hiking and cycling trails lead directly from the hotel into nature, while guided tours with nature park rangers or ornithological excursions bring this diversity to life.
A stay with impact
What visitors often sense intuitively is the result of a well-thought-out concept: In Reinsehlen, it is not just about relaxation, but also about attitude. Anyone staying overnight here stays in an area shaped by its transition from a military area to a place of tranquility amidst unique nature. And anyone who engages with the surroundings and takes in the atmosphere among buzzing bees, singing birds, and rustling leaves quickly realizes: Silence is sometimes an invitation to listen closely.
Jan Lohmann, Lodge Reinsehlen