Regierungspräsidium » Shaped by man Schatzinsel Kühkopf Environmental Education Centre Darmstadt Almost all the Central Euro - pean landscapes we see today bear witness to a long history of human activity. Opening times: November 1st – March 31st: In addition to entirely natural Tue – Fri: 2 p.m. – 5 p.m. habitats essentially left Sat, Sun, public holidays: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. untouched by human hand, man-made elements of April 1st – October 31st: Kühkopf-Knoblochsaue Nature Tue – Fri: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. Reserve are also among Sat, Sun, public holidays: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. the areas most worthy of protection. Closed on Mondays, December 24th and December 31st. Meadows Tel.: +49 (0) 6158 1886451 • Meadows are one of the nature reserve’s most important [email protected] plant communities. Low-lying meadows subject to regular Förderverein www.schatzinsel-kuehkopf.de flooding are home to large populations of saw-wort, mouse garlic and sulphurweed. These species have adapted Hofgut Location of Kühkopf- Lahn to not only long periods of flooding, but also extreme Koblenz Knoblochsaue Nature Reserve drought during the summer months. They once created Guntershausen e. V. colourful riverside meadows throughout the Hessian Ried, but are now only found in nature reserves. If you are interested in... • Art and culture in rural areas Taunus Frankfurt a. M. • An area of around 150 hectares is characterized • Informative lectures and tours Wiesbaden n B ai M by pollarded willows , ine Rh the majority of which were … then please pay us a visit! Mainz planted in the old bed of Groß-Gerau the Rhine in order to pro - Darmstadt mote the accumulation Museum & gallery at Hofgut Guntershausen Nature Reserve of silt. Some of the willows Former estate manager’s house including the Stockstadt am Rhein Museum of Local Heritage, permanent and temporary Kühkopf- on the Kühkopf are now Knoblochsaue Legend exhibitions, rooms for seminars and talks. cared for as cultural relics Knoblochsaue section Odenwald R Forest h 1 Duck Trail: 4,7 km in and habitats for hole-dwelling Opening times between March and October: e Meadow Pollarded willow species. 2 Black Woodpecker Trail: 11,5 km Sat, Sun, public holidays: Water 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. and by arrangement Reeds 3 Greylag Goose Trail: 2,2 km • Over 2,000 fruit trees remind us of the economic importance 10 km Ludwigshafen Mannheim 4 Middle Spotted Woodpecker Trail: 3,7 km of the Kühkopf in the past. Apple trees alone come in Contact: around 30 different varieties, many of which are now rarely Parking Kühkopf section Förderverein Hofgut Guntershausen e. V. Information encountered. They are tended to using nature conservation Shelter Außerhalb 27, 64589 Stockstadt am Rhein Playground 1 Bluethroat Trail: 4,8 km funds. Tel.: +49 (0) 6158 82 87 39 Credits on Kühkopf-Knoblochsaue Hide 2 Nightingale Trail: 7,5 km [email protected] Publisher: Observation point 3 Great Crested Grebe Trail: 16,3 km www.hofgut-guntershausen.de Regierungspräsidium Darmstadt, 64278 Darmstadt Nature Reserve Hofgut Guntershausen Copy: Ralph Baumgärtel, Henner Gonnermann, Herbert Zettl 4 White Stork Trail: 4,5 km Headquarters, postal address: Photos: Hans-Peter Maier, Polizeifliegerstaffel Hessen, Herbert Zettl Restaurant 5 Pheasant Trail: 9,8 km Rathaus – Rheinstr. 34 –36, Layout & design: IMAGO87, Attenkirchen R6 long-distance cycle path 64589 Stockstadt am Rhein Printer: Regierungspräsidium Darmstadt Boundary of the nature area 6 Heron Trail: 5,8 km » The Kühkopf – island and ark » Forests with wet feet » Waterscapes Over 250 confirmed species of bird make Kühkopf- Floodplain forests are characterized by a step-like transition Floodplains classified as “close to nature” are home to a huge Knoblochsaue Nature Reserve one of Germany’s most from water to land, and are the result of natural hydrody - variety of bodies of water, each with their own specific important ornithological habitats. It has therefore been namics (i.e. constant fluc - fauna and flora. Characterized by water level fluctuations of classified as an “ornithological reserve of European tuations in the level of the up to seven metres, the Rhine and Old Rhine offer habitats importance” since 1961. adjacent body of water). for fish and fish-eating animals in particular. Its periodically The lowest-lying areas flooded meadows and reed beds make the Old Rhine one This diversity is attributable to not only the coexistence of softwood floodplain of the most important spawning grounds for wild carp and of highly specialized symbiotic communities such as reed forest feature a variety pike on the northern section of the Upper Rhine. beds, dense populations of willows and hardwood flood - of willows and black plain forests, but also the presence of man-made elements poplars, and can stand Dear Visitors, that provide structure to the landscape. Species of note in water for up to 200 Kühkopf-Knoblochsaue include the bluethroat and reed warbler in the expansive days a year. They there - We invite you to discover the flora and fauna of the largest reed beds, the Rhine fore offer unique ecologi - nature reserve in the state of Hessen . An extremely rare willow tit – a particular cal niches. Willow tits, landscape of unspoilt riverside habitats spread across an area Nature Reserve rarity – in the willow redstarts and tawny owls of around 24 square kilometres awaits you. Softwood floodplain forest forests and the middle benefit from the many The quality and significance of our nature reserve are reflected » A landscape in a state of flux » The fascination of floodplains spotted woodpecker holes the trees have to offer, while rare fungi and wood-eating in its classification as a “reserve of European importance” in the hardwood insects recycle their quickly decaying soft wood. by the German section of the International Council for Bird floodplain forests. As part of the Upper Rhine Plain, Kühkopf-Knoblochsaue Kühkopf-Knoblochsaue Nature Reserve is located in the Preservation. The reserve also forms part of the EU-wide Nature Reserve is situated in a landscape upon which set - natural floodplain of the Upper Rhine. As a result of alter - network of protected areas “Natura 2000” . They are joined by Hardwood floodplain forests are Central Europe’s most tlements and industry have left a considerable mark. Past nating periods of flooding and drought, the reserve is the Eurasian tree diverse natural habitat. The jungle-like forest landscape on interventions in the course and flow of the Rhine have had home to a huge, dense variety of symbiotic communities. Make sure you pay a visit to Schatzinsel Kühkopf Environ - sparrow, common the Kühkopf is home to over 40 different species of tree, with a dramatic impact on the river’s floodplain. Bodies of water, exposed alluvial deposits, reed beds and mental Education Centre at Hofgut Guntershausen! whitethroat and red- the most flood-resistant members of this community (the Located around 200 m from the Stockstädter Brücke walkers’ meadows intermingle with populations of herbaceous backed shrike, which English oak and the elm) able to withstand flooding for up car park near Stockstadt, the centre houses exhibitions provid - The regulation of the river in the 19th century (which led plants and bushes as well as floodplain forests of softwood benefit from man- to 100 days a year. The island’s hardwood floodplain forests ing fascinating insights into a variety of aspects of the Kühkopf. to the separation of the Kühkopf from the left bank of and hardwood trees. Flooding determines when and for Reeds standing on alluvial deposits made habitats in the are an ideal habitat for many woodland birds, and in parti - the Rhine to form an island), the artificial narrowing of how long each area is flooded, and in turn the species and Middle spotted woodpecker shape of the orchards cular various species of woodpecker. They are also the chosen The neighbouring buildings are maintained by the Hofgut the shipping lane at the start of the 20th century and symbioses present within the floodplains. Flooding is on the Kühkopf. breeding ground of raptors and grey herons. In April, Old arms of the Rhine such as the Schusterwörther Alt- Guntershausen Society , and feature exhibitions on regional the expansion of the Upper Rhine between 1928 and therefore vital to the survival of this unique landscape. To find history, art and culture. Around 120 species Knoblochsaue is particularly famous for its early-flowering rhein, Aquarium and Schlappeswörth differ from the 1970 caused more than 90 % of the floodplain in their out more, please visit the “Mitten im Fluss” exhibition. of bird are known to plants such as alpine squill, primroses and wild garlic. aforementioned bodies of water due to their much gentler previous, more natural form to disappear. Over 60 km of trails enable you to explore the nature reserve breed at the reserve. current. As a result, they are home to a wealth of aquatic on foot or by bicycle. We also recommend taking a look at Others – for example plants including water nut and various species of water Today, experts classify just 1% of the floodplain of » We need floodplains the current programme of events at Schatzinsel Kühkopf northern geese, ducks lily. These bodies of water serve as nurseries for most the Upper Rhine as “close to nature” – second only Environmental Education Centre. and snipe – use it as local species of fish, and are an ideal location for the floating to “natural” in a six-step scale. Kühkopf-Knoblochsaue Floodplains provide habitats and means of propagation for a staging post during nests of aquatic birds. We hope you have a great time on the Kühkopf! Nature Reserve is the largest continuous network of many specially adapted animal and plant species. They are migration.