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AROUND THE REGIONS<br />
30<br />
Germany<br />
Senne<br />
over the Senne produced by Capt<br />
Ric Gill of 20 Brigade, which was very<br />
popular and certainly had a somewhat<br />
mesmerising quality.<br />
The day was a great success and it<br />
was estimated that 7000 visitors may<br />
have attended the day, who lef t for<br />
home both enter tained and with a<br />
much better understanding of the<br />
Senne Training Area.<br />
Senne Training Area open day 2014 © Crown<br />
The Senne Training Area was opened<br />
to the public in August 2014 when the<br />
British Forces held a Senne Information<br />
Day. The idea was to inform and<br />
entertain visitors to the Senne and also<br />
to permit controlled access for a day to<br />
walkers and cyclists through selected<br />
parts of the training area that would<br />
normally be out-of-bounds.<br />
A huge amount of work went into<br />
organising and running the open<br />
day, not just from the British side, but<br />
also from the German authorities,<br />
without whom it would have been<br />
impossible to hold the event. A show<br />
ground was prepared in the centre<br />
of the Senne alongside the airstrip at<br />
the Windmühle (a windmill). Soldiers<br />
from the 1st Battallion, Prince of Wales<br />
Royal Regiment (1PWRR), with range<br />
staff from DIO SD Training (Germany),<br />
were instrumental in setting-up<br />
stands of tents and managing access<br />
routes and car-parking.<br />
There were numerous displays and<br />
attractions from all involved in the<br />
military and estate management of the<br />
Senne Training Area. These included<br />
a Warrior armoured vehicle with its<br />
crew from 1PWRR and a Bundeswehr<br />
Leopard II panzer, not surprisingly<br />
popular with the children. There were<br />
also tractors and machinery used for<br />
land maintenance, fire engines and<br />
other emergency vehicles. The Defence<br />
Infrastructure Organistation (DIO) had<br />
an informative display illustrating the<br />
history of the Senne since it first became<br />
a training area back in 1892. There were<br />
also stands from our German partners<br />
in managing the estate - the Federal<br />
Forestry Department (Bundesforst), the<br />
Senne Biological Station and the Land<br />
Maintenance Team. Most important was<br />
a display from the Explosive Ordnance<br />
Disposal Team (EOD) from range control<br />
with their frightening collection of<br />
‘blinds’ - munitions actually collected<br />
from the Senne as a potent reminder<br />
to visitors not to stray off roads or into<br />
a training area that will always remain<br />
potentially dangerous.<br />
For more adventurous visitors, there<br />
were opportunities to walk and cycle on<br />
cleared routes, including outings with<br />
local foresters, nature and culture experts<br />
acting as guides and answering questions<br />
about this beautiful and fascinating place.<br />
Perhaps the highlight of the day was<br />
an excellent video of drone flights<br />
In October 2014, the Senne Training<br />
Area played host to BBC Countryfile,<br />
who were filming a slot for their<br />
World War I Special, broadcast on<br />
9th November 2014. Lt Col Mike<br />
Onslow, Commander DIO SD Training<br />
(Germany), introduced the training area<br />
to Countryfile presenter Ellie Harrison,<br />
explaining the primary importance of<br />
military use. Markus Lorenz of the Land<br />
Maintenance Team walked with Ellie<br />
over the characteristic, inland, sand<br />
dunes of the Senne with their special<br />
grasses. The shepherds, Max Laabs<br />
and Renate Regier, garbed in traditonal<br />
smocks, then showcased their rare<br />
breed sheep and the accompanying<br />
goats carrying ‘luggage’ of coffee and<br />
cake. Other filming also captured the<br />
interesting history, beautiful landscape<br />
and rare species of the Senne.<br />
In what was otherwise a poignant one<br />
hour Countryfile Special from Flanders<br />
and the Western Front, the ten minutes<br />
of the programme featuring the Senne<br />
showed how former enemies have<br />
become friends, cooperating in the<br />
management of a training estate rich in<br />
wildlife and natural beauty.<br />
Mark F Johnson MSc<br />
Land Management Services<br />
Defence Infrastructure Organisation<br />
Sanctuary 44 • 2015<br />
99