Besenhorster Sandberge und Elbsandwiesen, Nature reserve in Geesthacht, Germany.
Besenhorster Sandberge und Elbsandwiesen is a nature reserve near Hamburg that combines dry sandy grasslands, inland dunes, and oak woodlands in a single landscape. The area spans roughly 150 hectares and is accessible via two parking areas at the edge of Geesthacht, from which a 5-kilometer network of marked walking routes extends.
The area was designated as a protected reserve in 1993, following decades of industrial use when the Düneberg powder factory operated there. This shift from industrial site to conservation area marked a major change in the site's purpose and status.
The reserve serves as a green space where people from nearby towns come to walk and reconnect with nature away from daily life. Its sandy hills and woodland offer a feeling of wilderness that contrasts with the developed areas surrounding it.
Wear sturdy footwear since the paths cross sandy and hilly terrain that can become slippery in wet conditions. Drier weather makes walking more pleasant and easier to navigate through the reserve.
The reserve is home to Germany's northwesternmost population of the striped bush-cricket, making it particularly significant for insect research. This small grasshopper species is uncommon and its presence demonstrates the ecological value of this sandy landscape.
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