What is creeping, flying and blossoming there?

The Nature Park is rich in valuable habitats which are home to threatened animal and plant species. These need protection. Especially in an area where conflicting uses such as agriculture, forestry and – due to the vicinity of Berlin – settlement and recreation all collide. For this reason 9% of the Nature Park surface area is designated as nature preserve. The designation of more than 68% of the total surface area as areas of protected landscape helps to preserve and develop nature and to steer forms of use.

The heraldic animal emblem of the Nature Park is the rare Fire-bellied Toad. However, jeopardised amphibian species such as the Great Crested Newt, Garlic Toad and Moor Frog also find appropriate habitats here. The males of the rare and little-known Moor Frog are among the most spectacular phenomena of the native animal world here due to their brilliant blue colouring during the mating season.

The near-natural streams and rivers are home to endangered fish and clam species, including the European Brook Lamprey, Bullhead and Freshwater Pearl Mussel. The depths of the Liepnitz Lake are home to shoals of Vendace.

Elbe beavers and otters have successfully reclaimed virtually all the running waters. The beavers prefer the semi-natural streams, as they need soft timber, especially willows, in the bank area. If the rodent is not visible itself, its presence is reflected in the gnaw marks in the trees along the Lange Trödel, the Schwärze and other streams.

The plumage of the kingfisher is conspicuous. Like a flying blue jewel, it zooms over the water, grabs a fish and brings the prey back to its young in a cave by the shore. However, woodlarks, white storks, cranes and birds of prey such as the red kite, osprey and the hobby also find appropriate feeding habitats and breeding places in the Nature Park.

A large number of endangered bat species with attractive names such as Lesser Noctule live here and round off the list of protected species.

Heath, riverbanks, fens, woodland and meadow – wherever you look locally adapted, often endangered plant species with unusual sounding names grow everywhere. From among the large number we can mention by way of example the Alpine Witchweed, the Common Devil’s Bit, the Globeflower, the Western Marsh Orchid and the Marsh Euphorbia.