After the heavy thunderstorms there is a lot of loose dead wood and fallen trees can block paths. Please be careful and do not rest under scrawny trees.

Due to the ongoing heat wave and drought, there is a considerable risk of forest fires in the canton of Zurich (level 3 out of 5). We kindly ask you not to light fires in the Sihlwald. You may use the marked fireplaces in the Langenberg Wildlife Park. Please always extinguish the fire completely.

Ruderal area (dry site)

Ruderal areas are habitats with stony or sandy subsoil that have a mosaic of overgrown and open patches of ground. Ruderal areas are often populated by pioneer plants and ground-nesting insects.

Material:

Free soil surface of at least 1 m²
Nutrient-poor substrate, e.g. wall gravel (unwashed, unbroken and round); sand and natural stones
Native seeds for ruderal areas
optional: stones and/or branches of various sizes

Structure:

depending on the conditions, the humus layer must be removed from the existing soil by up to 40 cm
Fill the area with nutrient-poor substrate
Sow with a native seed mixture in spring (March-May) or fall
Optionally, the area can also be enhanced with sand lenses, stone and branch piles or wooden berms

Function:

Provides food and habitat for wild bees and other insects, reptiles such as lizards, amphibians and birds

Location:

Sunny and dry locations all year round are ideal. Steep slopes are particularly popular with ground-nesting wild bees. Already existing, open and unvegetated sites are suitable and require no additional material.