Craving a landscape sculpted by ice and time? Prepare to be amazed by the Dalbekschlucht. This nature reserve whispers tales of ancient glaciers. It also tells of a time when the land was shaped by ice. Dalbekschlucht is located on the southern edge of Schleswig-Holstein. It borders the eastern edge of Hamburg. The communities of Börnsen, Escheburg, and Kröppelshagen meet here.
The Dalbekschlucht is a protected area. It is defined by a ravine forest. The Dalbek stream flows through it. The stream has kept its original form. It meanders through the landscape. The forest mainly consists of deciduous trees. Beech trees dominate here.
What makes the Dalbekschlucht so special? Its relief reveals its history. The High Geest around the Dalbek was formed during the Saale Ice Age. That was around 200,000 to 125,000 years ago. The following Weichsel Ice Age stopped about 30 kilometers before the Elbe Valley. Meltwater carved side valleys into the High Geest. These valleys drained into the Elbe. Besides the Dalbekschlucht, there is also the Bornbek valley in Börnsen. You can also find the Escheburg Grübben and the Bistal near Escheburg.
Before the ice ages, a vast sea covered Northern Germany. This was during the Tertiary period. That was 2.5 to 65 million years ago. Erosion in the Dalbek valley has exposed soils from the Tertiary period. You can recognize them by the gray clay. It contains embedded shells.
The Dalbekschlucht became a nature reserve in 1994. The BUND was entrusted with its care. The area covers about 66 hectares. The Dalbek stream flows from the north. It forms the border between Escheburg and Börnsen.
Birdsong fills the air in spring. You might hear the drumming of woodpeckers. There are black, green, great spotted, and lesser spotted woodpeckers. Tits like the coal, blue, and marsh tit also live here. Thrushes such as blackbirds, song thrushes, and mistle thrushes are common too. Finches like the chaffinch and greenfinch are frequently seen. Warblers including the willow, wood, and chiffchaff warbler can be heard. Nuthatches, wrens, robins, tree pipits, and garden redstarts are present. Blackcaps, flycatchers, treecreepers, wood pigeons, and stock doves inhabit the area. Ravens and carrion crows can be spotted. In other seasons, you might notice the tawny owl, buzzard, hawk, and jay.
The Dalbek is important for migrating and resting birds in winter. These include bramblings, redwings, and goldcrests. They usually breed in Scandinavia during the summer. Mammals are harder to spot. Most are nocturnal. Deer, hares, badgers, foxes, and bats live here.
The Dalbek valley is beautiful, especially in spring. The forest floor is covered in carpets of wood anemones. Other spring flowers bloom as well. These include lesser celandine, corydalis, primroses, lungwort, woodruff, violets, and wood sorrel. Solomon’s seal, yellow archangel, lily of the valley, twinleaf, spleenwort, and chickweed are also present.
In the valley floor and at the springs, there is no forestry. This is to avoid disturbing the natural processes. The dynamic development of the area should remain tangible. Disturbance should be kept to a minimum. Stay on the paths to protect the vegetation. The paths are varied. They lead through the gorge or along the higher edge.
The Dalbekschlucht’s future depends on the animals. They must be able to leave and return to the relatively small “island” of Dalbek. This is only possible if the adjacent fields remain as they are. Many animals need the open landscape. They need its hedgerows, wetlands, and individual trees. Building right up to the Dalbek forest would destroy the protected area.
Take a deep breath. Feel the cool air. Listen to the rustling leaves. Imagine the ancient glaciers that carved this valley. The Dalbekschlucht is more than just a pretty place. It is a living testament to the power of nature.