Biesenhorster Sand

Hidden within Berlin’s eastern expanse lies a natural sanctuary, the Biesenhorster Sand. This seemingly unassuming landscape holds a captivating story, a testament to nature’s resilience. The Biesenhorster Sand, a protected area, straddles the districts of Lichtenberg and Marzahn-Hellersdorf. It’s a place where rare and protected species flourish, a hidden gem within a bustling metropolis. This 108-hectare sanctuary owes its unique character to the last ice age. Melting glaciers left behind sandy plains, creating the foundation for the dry grasslands and open sand areas we see today. The Biesenhorster Sand isn’t just sand and grassland. Clumps of trees, tall perennials, and scattered shrubs add to the tapestry of this diverse landscape. Imagine the vibrant colors of 382 fern and flowering plant species, 21 of which are on the Red List of threatened species. Among them are the critically endangered common kidney vetch, dropwort, and sticky catchfly. The Biesenhorster Sand even surprised botanists with the rediscovery of the slender-leaved stork’s-bill, a plant previously thought to be extinct in Berlin. The insect world at Biesenhorster Sand is equally impressive. Entomologists have identified 1,324 insect species, including 388 species of butterflies, 111 of which are on the Red List. Twelve species were thought to be extinct in Berlin. One particular weevil hadn’t been seen in Berlin or Brandenburg for over a century. A bee species, last observed in 1912, has reappeared here. The Biesenhorster Sand also boasts 25 grasshopper species, including the Italian locust and Berlin’s largest population of the blue-winged grasshopper. This delicate ecosystem provides a haven for 33 breeding bird species. Several, like the tawny pipit, crested lark, woodlark, wheatear, red-backed shrike, and common linnet, are on the Red List, highlighting the area’s importance for avian biodiversity. The Biesenhorster Sand has a rich, layered history. Once a forested area, it became farmland in the mid-19th century. The Siemens airship hangar occupied the site from 1907. This was followed by the Berlin-Karlshorst air station in 1917. Allotment gardens sprung up after 1918. These gardens, however, were displaced by the construction of the outer ring railway line in the 1930s. The area played a different role during the GDR era, housing the Wuhlheide marshalling yard from 1953 and a Soviet army barracks with its own loading station. This military presence ended with the withdrawal of Soviet troops in 1994. The marshalling yard was decommissioned and dismantled, allowing nature to reclaim its space. The Biesenhorster Sand wouldn’t be the thriving ecosystem it is today without the dedicated efforts of the Naturschutzbund Deutschland (NABU) Berlin. Since the mid-1990s, NABU has implemented regular maintenance work. This includes preventing the overgrowth of dry grasslands by natural tree and shrub growth. Sheep and goats graze on five designated areas, helping to maintain this valuable habitat. The Biesenhorster Sand, a place of remarkable biodiversity and resilience, stands as a symbol of nature’s ability to thrive even within a bustling metropolis.