Henstedter Moor, nature reserve in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
Henstedter Moor is a protected nature area on flat ground near Henstedt-Ulzburg featuring wet grasslands, moorlands, and leafy forests. The area is crisscrossed by small water channels and supports diverse plants and animals, including rare bird species, frogs, and ring snakes.
Henstedter Moor was once actively used for peat extraction, an activity that created the water pools and ridges visible today. Modern restoration efforts now focus on raising water levels and filling drainage channels to return the land to its original wetland state.
The name Henstedter Moor connects directly to the nearby village and reflects the long relationship between local people and this land. Historically, inhabitants harvested peat here, an activity that shaped the landscape and remains part of the place's identity today.
Visitors can walk, cycle, or ride horses on the maintained paths around the area, but must keep dogs on a leash to protect wildlife and plants. Information boards along the routes explain the different species and features visible throughout the site.
The moor is currently being deliberately rewetted to restore its original state and combat climate change, as wet moors store greenhouse gases rather than releasing them. This restoration work makes it one of few places where environmental protection and climate action happen side by side.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
