@pony I have no clue about the half-burning coal mining waste places, but artillery practice ranges are seriously interesting - I hear from 1st hand accounts. Since these military areas are a no-go for most people, wilderness seriously overtakes. Occasional mechanical turmoil does not harm small plants that much (trees are another story of course), but what is most striking what people tell me is the number and behaviour of wild game animals. First of all, they are plentiful. Second, since they are not hunted there, they do not consider humans a threat. In result, one can meet a herd of deer, or a family of wild boar from really close close-up.