In The National Park of Hainich (4/12)

Hainich is extolled as Germany's most beautiful forest. Here extensive mixed woodlands have been preserved, whose primeval character is quite unique in Europe. The National Park of Hainich, situated north-east of Eisenach, is part of the range of hills of the same name in Thuringia and is located right in the "green heart of Germany". In its unspoiled natural landscape, not intersected by roads, many plants and animal communities typical of mixed forests have survived. The team follows the trails of badger and fox in the midst of dense beech woods, documents the life of a family of black woodpeckers in its domicile and observes bats in a hollow tree. The open spaces, formerly military training areas, have become the habitat of the largest population of yellow-bellied toads in Germany. In the fringe areas the shrikes, aka butcherbirds, and many other birds rear their young. Wild cats also leave their traces in this region.