The bank of the river Sinn is seamed by Black Alder, Crack Willow and a few Ash trees. Black Alder trees have become rare in Germany, because their habitat - natural river courses, meandering through the countryside - have almost entirely disappeared.
Detail: Land for the beaver
The riparian forest
Due to the drawdown of the groundwater level, only few regularly flooded riparian forests remain today. Unlike the Ash trees with which Black Alder trees are commonly found alongside streams, the Black Alder is a water specialist that does not mind wet roots and tolerates even standing waters. The original vegetation near the river Sinn would have very looked different indeed. By nature, there would be a whole riparian forest here, consisting of Black Alder, Ash and Crack Willow - not just a fragmented seam. Hornbeam, Common Oak and shrub species, such as European Spindle Tree and Black Elder, would have grown just behind. Natural riparian forests slowly re-establish In the shrub layer of a natural riparian forest you would find a wild mixture of plants: forest plants, such as Pilewort, Anemone and Arum, but also delicate tall forbs. Kingcup and Meadowsweet would also be found. The beaver, Naturefund and the GNA are working on the recurrence of natural riparian forests in Germany. Join us and help us to buy more land for nature! To our current projectMore about the beaverMore about natural river courses
