Aschendorfer Obermoor / Wildes Moor, nature reserve in Lower Saxony, Germany
The Aschendorfer Obermoor is a protected natural area south of Papenburg spanning over 1000 hectares of peatland with wet, acidic soils formed from accumulated moss and plant matter. The landscape features intact high moors, rewetted sections, and remnant peat areas where specialized plants such as white beak sedge and various mosses grow naturally.
The moor was heavily altered over centuries through peat extraction for fuel and gardening, with sections drained for other uses. The area received protected status in 2007 to preserve remaining natural peatlands and allow rewetting projects to restore original hydrological conditions.
The name reflects the moor's geographical position and the wetland landscape that has shaped the region for centuries. Visitors today experience a place where locals have learned to value nature protection after earlier generations used the peat for fuel and commercial purposes.
A marked circular trail guides visitors through the area, with clear signs instructing visitors to stay on paths and keep dogs leashed to protect wildlife during breeding seasons. Waterproof clothing is recommended due to the wet and often windy conditions, and parking is available at a nearby lot off Birkenallee for convenient access.
The sand bee Andrena vaga uses the area in spring for breeding, with females digging tunnels about 25 centimeters deep to lay eggs that overwinter underground before emerging again. This annual return of these bees demonstrates how the rewetted moor has become stable enough to support these specialized insects consistently.
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