Dellstedter Birkwildmoor

The Dellstedter Birkwildmoor is a protected reserve in Schleswig-Holstein consisting of two large bog areas called Nordermoor and Ostermoor spread across roughly 620 hectares. Beneath the moorland surface lie thick peat layers several meters deep that form the foundation of this landscape.

The area was drained around 250 years ago to extract peat for fuel, and in 1843 a merchant named Marcus Hartwig Holler purchased a large portion for peat and iron extraction. This early exploitation shaped the moorland and influenced later conservation efforts.

The reserve is valued by local nature enthusiasts as an important site for watching moorbirds that fly across the open expanses. The boggy landscape with its low-growing plants shapes the view and shows how this habitat sustains specialized wildlife.

A roughly 4.5-kilometer circular trail leads through the Nordermoor section, allowing visitors to walk through the moorland on foot. An observation tower along the route provides wide views across the landscape and makes it easier to spot wildlife.

The moorland contains specialized plant species such as sundew and cranberry that depend on wet, nutrient-poor soils. These rare plants signal a healthy bog ecosystem and also attract specialized insects like the northern emerald dragonfly.

Location: Dellstedt

Location: Tielenhemme

Inception: 1957

GPS coordinates: 54.25610,9.36472

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:44