How about stepping into a world where time stands still? Here, in the Dresdner Heide, lies a hidden gem. It is the Saugartenmoor. This place whispers tales of ancient landscapes. It is a protected natural monument.
The Saugartenmoor is one of the last remaining of its kind in the Dresdner Heide. It is a rare type of Schwingmoor in Saxony. This means it has extensive floating lawns. The moor has not reached the full development stage of a true raised bog. But its peat deposits are significant. They formed in a shallow moor.
The Saugartenmoor sits on the Alten Acht. This is about 200 meters northeast of the Heide’s center. The moor is about 75 meters long and 60 meters wide. It lies nearly 230 meters above sea level. The moor sits in a hollow of the Lausitzer Platte. The plate here consists of granodiorite. At its deepest point, the moor’s deposits are 2.85 meters thick.
The Saugartenmoor secures one of the last remaining moors of the Dresdner Heide. It serves as a vital refuge. It protects rare and specialized plant and animal species. This makes it important beyond the region.
The Saugartenmoor formed after the Ice Age. This was about 10,000 years ago. It began in a drainage-less depression. It is a transitional moor. Parts of it show transitions to a raised bog. It features typical raised bog flora. The surrounding inland dunes are up to 15 meters high. They consist of Ice Age sand.
In the 16th and 17th centuries, the moor may have been cut for peat. It was transformed into the Saugartenteich. An drainage ditch was added. After this use was abandoned, re-silting began. Both rainwater and groundwater feed the silted moor. Older maps also refer to it as Saugartenteich.
Originally, the Dresdner Heide had many fens. Today, only the Saugartenmoor remains. It still has the typical vegetation of moors. You will find species of peat mosses and rushes here. Specific species include the small bladderwort. There is also the round-leaved sundew and white beak-sedge. The floating plant cover mainly consists of a felt of peat mosses. Hair moss, cranberries, narrow-leaved wool grass and various sedges also thrive here. Evidence of tussock cottongrass only exists up to 1942.
The Saugartenmoor became a protected natural monument in 1975. It is among the best-preserved moors in the Dresdner Heide. It is a biotope endangered by drainage. Nutrient input threatens it in Central Europe. It features plant communities of nutrient-poor transitional moors. It also has a Schwingrasen, a floating lawn, rare in Saxony. Moors are among the most endangered ecosystems in Germany.
The revitalization of disturbed moors is essential in the Dresdner Heide. Historical forest maps often refer to these as Bruch. This revitalization aims to increase the small populations of endangered species. It ensures the long-term preservation of moorland plants and animals.
To support revitalization, the drainage ditch was sealed in 2013. Clay was used to plug it. This has since caused water to back up. The water level in the moor has risen. The moor revitalization is a joint project. It involves the Staatsbetrieb Sachsenforst, the city of Dresden and NABU. NABU is the Naturschutzbund Deutschland.
The Saugartenmoor testifies to landscape and cultural history. It is a valuable retreat for rare moor plants and animals. As you stand here, consider the delicate balance of this ecosystem. Imagine the efforts to preserve this natural treasure for future generations. The Saugartenmoor remains a testament to the enduring beauty of nature. It highlights the importance of conservation.