Buttermoor / Butterbargsmoor, nature reserve in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
Buttermoor / Butterbargsmoor is a protected nature reserve covering about 105 hectares in the Holm and Wedel region. The moorland consists of open areas with heather vegetation, wet sections with marsh plants, and sandy dunes in the southern part where bell heather, orchids, and moor grass grow in nutrient-poor soil.
The area formed after the last ice age in a low-lying depression where peat and vegetation accumulated over millennia. It was officially designated as a protected reserve on December 14, 1992, to preserve the natural processes of this moorland after it had been partially drained and dried out.
The name Buttermoor reflects the moorland character that visitors encounter today. Open spaces are actively maintained with grazing sheep and goats that prevent trees and bushes from taking over, keeping the landscape in its natural bog state rather than allowing it to become forested.
The area is accessible via several walking trails that allow visitors to explore the moorland on foot and observe birds, amphibians, and other wildlife. Information signs along the paths explain the plants, animals, and history of the site, helping visitors understand why the area is protected.
Since 2012, cranes have returned to breed in the wet parts of the moor and come back regularly to build nests and raise their young. Their return demonstrates how restoring the land supports animals that depend on wetland habitats.
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