Heimfelder Holz

Summary

Heimfelder Holz is a diverse forest located in the Harburg district. It has been designated a nature reserve in order to preserve this diverse habitat, which consists of deciduous, mixed and near-natural pine forests, and its associated biotic community.

Description

Spanning 88 hectares, the Heimfelder Holz nature reserve is Hamburg's 37th and provides a habitat for rare species of beetles, birds and bats, making it of great value in terms of nature conservation. The beetle family is extremely diverse, comprising 440 species, 122 of which are on the Red List. Of particular note are the two so-called 'primeval forest relict species', which indicate high structural quality and habitat continuity. Additionally, 37 breeding bird species were identified, including the middle-spotted woodpecker — a demanding indicator species of deadwood and structural richness — which was previously unknown to breed in Harburg. The presence of tawny owls and stock doves is also noteworthy, as these species require large tree cavities for breeding. In addition, at least 11 of the 14 species of bat that are strictly protected in Hamburg were identified. Our largest bat, the greater mouse-eared bat, which was previously considered extinct or lost in Hamburg, was also found in Heimfelder Holz. Therefore, special attention is being paid to preserving the roosting trees with suitable structures, such as cavities, cracks and flaking bark.