Interesting information about the southern Leine floodplain nature reserve

Where ist the Alte Leine nature reserve?

The Alte Leine nature reserve stretches from the Fuchsbach stream in Pattensen to the confluence of the Alte Leine and the Leine at Ziegenbocksbrücke in North Laatzen. Covering a total area of 317 hectares, the reserve protects a diverse landscape that is home to many endangered animal and plant species. 

What habitats are there in the the southern Leine floodplain nature reserve?

·        Many wet meadows regularly flooded by the Leine 

·        The Koldinger Holz forest 

·        Remnants of riparian forest 

·        Former bodies of seepage water, as well as gravel and clay ponds 

This diversity of habitats means that the reserve is home to many species of migratory and breeding birds, as well as many plants, insects, amphibians and bats. 

Why is it an attractive place for birdwatching?

A lot of the reserve has been shaped by decades of human activity. This has created an open landscape that is of particular importance to many grassland birds. 

To date, more than 240 bird species have been recorded in the area. This makes the southern Leine floodplain − together with the adjacent Leineaue zwischen Ruthe und Koldingen (Leine floodplain between Ruthe and Koldingen) nature reserve − one of the most attractive places for bird watching in northern Germany.

What were the consequences of gravel mining for Koldingen?

The original landscape of Koldingen was shaped by intensive agriculture. Gravel mining has changed it permanently. 

Gravel extraction has led to the disappearance of some of the extensive arable land and meadows along the Leine. 

Ponds of various sizes have taken their place. After the gravel mining was completed, the area became a valuable habitat for many endangered plant and animal species. 

Why is the area still changing?

Although flooding is becoming less frequent, the water dynamics still affect the sand and gravel areas, many of which are still bare: these are being restructured. 

The area is also changing through the natural return of animal, plant and fungal species. The flora (plants) and fauna (animals) show this through slow but continuous changes. 

Where only sand and gravel surfaces were left after gravel mining, fallow land has developed with interesting pioneer plant communities. Some of these areas are now covered with dense brier and willow. 

Why is there such a variety of plants and animals in the southern Leine floodplain?

The nature reserve is home to a wide variety of nature. In addition to the water, sand, gravel, grassland and arable land, the old forest along the Leine and the watercourse itself, with its cut and slip-off banks, contribute to this diversity. 

What species rest and overwinter in the area?

Today the area is a regionally important rest and wintering area for birds. Resting birds replenish their fat reserves for the journey to their breeding or wintering grounds. 

Black terns and other tern species, albeit in smaller numbers, as well as lapwings and a number of wading birds, stop here in large numbers. Ospreys and white-tailed eagles are occasionally seen in autumn and winter.

Green sandpipers regularly spend winter here. As long as the water is free of ice, you can also see the smew and the goosander, as well as the wigeon, the teal, the pintail, the shoveler, the goldeneye and, although rare, the velvet scoter duck. 

Since 1960, more than 240 bird species have been recorded as either visiting or breeding in the area. Of these, about 80 species are on the 'Red List of Endangered Breeding Birds in Lower Saxony and Bremen'. Of the 75 breeding bird species, around a third are on the red list, including the hobby, lapwing, kingfisher, nightingale and red-backed shrike. 

What insects live here?

A large number of endangered and threatened ground beetles have been found on the unvegetated gravel and sand areas and on the unvegetated bank edges. 

A variety of butterflies, such as the painted lady and the rare swallowtail, as well as a wide range of hymenopterans, visit the flowering plants on the fallow land. They are hunted by the banded demoiselle and other dragonfly species. 

Several species of grasshoppers live on the fallow land. 

What amphibians live here?

The water, especially the shallow and rapidly warming areas, is a spawning area and home to several species of amphibians, including the marsh frog, the grass frog and the rare great crested newt. 

What plants can you find here?

Of the plants found in this area, 21 species are on the 'Red List and Floristic List of Endangered Ferns and Flowering Plants in Lower Saxony and Bremen'. Most of the species found here are typical of river floodplain and stagnant water landscapes. 

Rare aquatic plants, such as horned pondweed, spreading crowfoot, river ragwort and, at the water's edge, water lilies, can be discovered here. The needle-leaved bulrush and the tufted forget-me-not, which is partially endangered in Lower Saxony, thrive on the occasionally flooded sandy meadows.