Whispers of the past rise from Ladebower Moor. Picture this a vast expanse of peat bog just outside Greifswald. Ladebower Moor a protected landscape since 1997 holds centuries of history within its watery embrace.
For over 10000 years Ladebower Moor has existed. A relic of the last Ice Age it formed in a glacial depression. Melting ice created a lake that gradually filled with peat. Water flowed in from a nearby ridge creating a unique flowing bog.
Ladebower Moor wasn’t always a protected haven. Starting in the early 1800s peat was harvested as fuel. Greifswald’s salt works and a brick factory relied on this fuel. The famous poet and naturalist Adalbert von Chamisso even visited. He documented this now-preserved area likely the first documented peat bog in Vorpommern.
By the mid 1900s large-scale peat extraction had created the Hartmannsche Teiche. These ponds initially served as fish farms. The name itself Hartmannsche Teiche meaning Hartmann’s Ponds points to the last person who farmed these lands. Parts of the moor were drained for agriculture and gravel extraction. The northern area was even used for farming.
But Ladebower Moor’s story changed. In 1993 a crucial event occurred. Drains were blocked restoring the water levels. A massive storm flood in 1995 further contributed to this. Now most of the moor is waterlogged or flooded. The Hartmannsche Teiche are surrounded by alder and birch woodlands. Reed beds thrive in the former peat cuttings. Even the rare water plant called Schneide an indicator of lime-rich water from the slopes grows here.
Today Ladebower Moor is a haven for biodiversity. Rare plants like sundew and adder’s tongue flourish. Birds like the reed warbler and the whinchat find refuge here. The return of water also brought back birds such as the lapwing and the redshank. It is now a testament to nature’s resilience.
Though mostly inaccessible trails exist near the northeastern grassland. They offer glimpses into this unique ecosystem. Ladebower Moor’s story reminds us of the delicate balance between human activity and nature. It reminds us that careful restoration can revive a landscape. A landscape that holds stories waiting to be discovered.