Ramsbrock Family Summer Festival

Bielefeld-Senne — Nature Area on the Edge of the Big City

Bielefeld, with around 340,000 inhabitants, is the largest city in Ostwestfalen and the region's economic center. The southern district of Senne has a special character: extensive forest and heath areas, shaped by the Senne nature area, an open sandy landscape at the transition between the Teutoburg Forest and the Westphalian Bight. Hof Ramsbrock on Ramsweg 2 is located in the middle of this natural area — a historic Senne farm that now serves as a Climate and Environmental Education Center.

Hof Ramsbrock — A Learning Place for Sustainability

Hof Ramsbrock is designated as a regional center for Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). The supporting association is the Förderverein Hof Ramsbrock e.V., which operates the farm as a learning place: garden, forest, meadow, pond, heathland, and farm buildings are used for workshops, kindergarten and school programs, and public events. The annual Family Summer Festival is the day when the entire concept is presented to the general public.

Climate Explorer Rally as the Centerpiece

The concept is clear: not to explain climate and environmental protection, but to let people experience it. During the Climate Explorer Rally, families complete interactive stations across the farm grounds: water cycle station at the pond, soil and composting experience in the garden, everyday CO₂ calculation at a station with question cards, forest as a climate actor experience in the farm's forest, edible wild herbs on the meadow. Children solve tasks, parents learn along — a mix that makes education accessible.

Wood-Fired Flammkuchen and Farm Gastronomy

The gastronomic offer is aligned with the farm concept: farm-baked Flammkuchen from the wood-fired oven — freshly topped with regional ingredients —, fresh waffles, coffee, and cold drinks. The atmosphere on the farm grounds, with straw bale seating, shade under old trees, and views of animals and heathland, distinguishes the summer festival from classic neighborhood festival formats.

Families as the Main Target Group

The main target group is families with children from Bielefeld, Senne, Sennestadt, Oerlinghausen, and the neighboring Lippe-Detmold area. However, groups of friends and individuals are also welcome — the atmosphere is open, admission is free, and no registration is required.

Bielefeld in Summer

For those traveling from further afield, the day trip can be extended: within Bielefeld, attractions include Sparrenburg Castle, the Botanical Garden, Bürgerpark, and the Kunsthalle Bielefeld. Those who want to experience the Senne nature area further can visit the neighboring Senne Nature Reserve or the Senne Training Area (accessible areas on weekends) — the unique sandy heath landscape.

Senne — A Little-Known NRW Landscape

The Senne is an unusual landscape for North Rhine-Westphalia: sandy, open, sparsely vegetated — more reminiscent of the Brandenburg or Lüneburg Heath than the usual green Westphalia. Broom, sand gorse, and birches grow here; animals like the hoopoe, woodlark, and sandrunner beetle live here. Visitors to the Family Summer Festival will get to know this hidden landscape — a bonus beyond the actual festival program.