Hasbruch

Nature Reserve

Germany - Niedersachsen

Area: 6.31km²

The Hasbruch is without doubt the most important nature reserve in the district of Oldenburg. Especially as a historically old forest site with areas of natural forest in which the forest has not been managed for over 150 years, the Hasbruch is of Europe-wide importance as a nature reserve. Today, the biodiversity is exceptionally high for a northern German forest site. The long history of the Hasbruch has been very changeable. In the Middle Ages, its extent was much greater and it was used in large parts as a hut forest, which led to rather sparse areas. With the start of organized forestry at the beginning of the 19th century, however, large parts of the forest were cleared and new oak trees were planted. Now it is gradually changing from a natural oak forest site to a copper beech forest site, as the oak cannot hold its own against the copper beech. Because of its special beauty, the Hasbruch is a popular excursion destination and is of tourist importance. The Hasbruch is also used by the local population primarily as a place for recreation and relaxation. On the forest pasture of the “Diversity in Geest and Moor” project in Hasbruch, Scottish Highland cattle are now working all year round to create a structurally rich pasture landscape and revitalize the historic Hutewald forest. The grazing area covers 12 hectares of grassland and 24 hectares of woodland and can even be accessed via a small footpath. However, sufficient distance must be maintained from the cattle.