Kirchwerder Wiesen

Summary

Even those who only know the Vier- und Marschlande by name, and have never walked along the many dykes winding through the landscape or hiked through the lowlands, can experience the area every day. For example, they can visit any of the city's weekly markets. This is because a large proportion of the fresh vegetables and flowers for sale originate from this region, one of the oldest cultivated landscapes in north-western Germany.

Description

The ditches in the old agricultural landscape, which is now mainly used as pasture for livestock, are an ecological highlight of the nature reserve. Many rare species of animals and plants can be found in and around them. The ditches are home to underwater and floating plants, and the edges are partly covered with reeds and sedges. Alders can also be found in some places. Other trees in the nature reserve include English oak, birch and fruit trees. The meadows are home to large populations of the pretty flowering rush. The Kirchwerder meadows are home to bird species that require wet, open, low-lying green habitats. The meadows and pastures are home to species that have long been on the Red List. These include the lapwing, the common snipe, the sedge warbler, the whinchat, the redshank, the garganey, the black-tailed godwit and, above all, the black tern. The Kirchwerder Wiesen are the only breeding grounds in Hamburg for this migratory bird, which stays true to its birthplace. It is listed as endangered in Hamburg.