SUSTAINABILITY

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