Peat dust once swirled where we stand. Welcome to the Raakmoor. This nature reserve in Hamburg whispers tales of transformation.
Once a thriving raised bog, the Raakmoor faced near destruction. Peat extraction and drainage schemes nearly erased it. Ackerland replaced the unique ecosystem.
During the Great Depression, the Raakmoorgraben arose from necessity. The SPD Senate initiated it as a job creation project. Volunteers dug the ditch by hand.
After World War II, reforestation efforts began tentatively. Only land unsuitable for agriculture was initially replanted. Those early plantings largely survive today.
In 1950, the Raakmoor opened as a green space. The Garden Department assumed care in 1956. They took over from the Forestry Office.
Renaturation commenced in 1977. Drainage ditches were filled. The Hummelsbütteler Moorgraben was dammed. This helped to spread moor vegetation in the core area.
The main area gained protection in 1979. It was declared a nature reserve. At 18 hectares, it was one of Hamburg’s smallest.
An attempt to control reed grass using moorland sheep failed in 1981. A care and development plan emerged in 1983. The NABU Langenhorn/Fuhlsbüttel group and the Forest Protection Community officially took over care. In 2004, the last houses at the Old Moor were demolished. The reserve expanded to roughly 33 hectares. A new care plan was created.
The Raakmoorgraben and the 300-meter-long reservoir dominate. In the 1990s, parts of the ditch widened. This created wetlands for controlled flooding and improved biodiversity. It also helped purify the water.
The Raakmoor pond edges the reserve. It is up to one meter deep. It was originally created for carp farming. Its waters have a moorish brown tint. Several streams feed it. An outflow drains it. Water lilies dot its center. Reeds fringe its edges. Fish include carp, bream, and tench. Fishing is prohibited here by decree.
Much of the Raakmoor is wooded with conifers and deciduous trees. Renaturation has brought back typical plants. These include peat mosses and bog asphodel. Heather and insect-eating sundews thrive. Marsh calla and bladderwort grow in the water. The sweet gale grows along the edges of the moor. Vikings once used it to flavor mead.
The Raakmoor’s wildlife is diverse after renaturation. Moor frogs and adders are found here. Many dragonfly species flit around. The Green Hairstreak butterfly is a rare sight. Gray geese and Canada geese nest by the ponds. Cranes and woodcocks visit. The Mandarin duck graces the rainwater retention basin. Elusive mammals like the pine marten and weasel roam here. Even the raccoon dog from East Asia has been spotted.
Lungenenzian-Ameisenbläuling is unfortunately extinct since 2012, Green Hairstreak, Spiegelfleck-Dickkopffalter and Waldbrettspiel can be seen in recent years.
Today, marked trails guide you. Information boards dot the landscape. Observation points give wide views. Enjoy the revitalized Raakmoor. It is a testament to nature’s resilience.