Borkener Paradies, Nature reserve in Meppen, Germany

Borkener Paradies is a 33.4-hectare nature reserve northwest of Meppen, encircled by an old meander of the Ems. It is a historic common pasture (Hutelandschaft) of open grassland, old oaks, blackthorn and hawthorn, with a central pond (kolk) and dry sandy areas of poor grassland. A hardwood floodplain forest lies west of the reserve.

The area was originally 78 hectares, but in 1937 the eastern part was reclaimed, leaving 33.4 hectares, of which about 30 hectares remain protected. It was designated a nature reserve on 31 July 1937 (NSG WE 022) and is now part of the FFH area "Ems". The old Ems meander was reconnected to the river via a weir with an adjacent rapids.

The name Paradies refers to the old common pasture (Allmendeweide) enclosed by an Ems meander, where grazing by cattle and horses continues today to keep the open meadow and old oaks with blackthorn and hawthorn. The site is one of the few surviving wood-pasture landscapes of this kind in river valleys, once also found in the Netherlands.

The reserve lies northwest of Meppen, encircled by an old arm of the Ems. A signposted circular route crosses the area, and grazing cattle and horses keep the pasture open, so keep a distance from the animals and leave the marked path.

The reserve is one of the last remaining examples of this type of wood-pasture in river valleys, a landscape that once existed in the Netherlands too. The old Ems meander is reconnected to the river by a weir with an adjacent rapids. The open areas alternate with old oaks, blackthorn and hawthorn, and the reserve holds a large population of nightingales.