Riedholz, Biological reserve in Schweinfurt, Germany

Riedholz is an 11-hectare nature forest reserve in the Steigerwaldvorland, between Grettstadt and Schwebheim in Lower Franconia. It protects a wet alder-ash woodland with bird cherry on damp soils, crossed by a stream. Ten shrub and 18 tree species were recorded, mainly ash, black alder and bird cherry, and old coppice stools and heavy old oaks show former coppice-with-standards use.

The reserve was formally designated as a protected area in 1999 to safeguard the wetlands and species living there from destruction. This designation followed growing understanding of the ecological importance of such habitats for regional flora and fauna.

The name Riedholz refers to the reedy woodland character of the site, and the stand is a Traubenkirschen-Erlen-Eschenwald on wet ground crossed by a small stream. In spring the protected Frühlings-Knotenblume flowers in the ground layer, and old coppice stools and heavy oaks show the former Mittelwald use.

Access is limited and visitors should stay on marked paths to avoid disturbing nesting bird colonies. A good approach is to bring binoculars and a camera for birdwatching from a safe distance while respecting the animals' rest periods.

Parts of Riedholz have been left unmanaged since 1971, when the municipality bought 2.3 hectares from the federal property administration and stopped forestry there. On 6 July 1999 it became the first nature forest reserve on Bavarian municipal woodland, covering about eleven hectares within the larger community forest.