Gagelbestand Nature Reserve

Popular recreation destination. Easy to reach on foot.

From Wikipedia: The gale (Myrica gale) is a species of plant in the gale family (Myricaceae). It is widespread in North America and northwestern Europe and is the only species of the Myricaceae family in Europe.The aromatic essential oil was and is a component of herbal liqueurs. In Denmark, especially in Jutland, where the shrub is still fairly common, the twigs of the porsesnaps form the key component of the porsesnaps, which is popular for its mildness. The Danish brewery Thisted Bryghus also brews a Gagel beer called Porse Guld.The Haarlemsche brewery Jopen from the Netherlands, which specializes in medieval-style beers, brews a Gagelbier called "Koyt gruitbier".
Dutch gruit beerThe dried leaves can be used as a spice or tea, the fresh leaves can be cooked in soups and stews

Entering the Gagelstock nature reserve with its heather moors is prohibited! That's why you can only see the gale bush in the photos from a distance.From the article GA 2017: "In the 19th century, the first measures to drain the wet forest were taken by the Prussian chief forester Friedrich Wilhelm Kleinschmidt. "The swampy ground caused black flies to multiply rapidly and make people sick. Draining allowed "The problem can be eliminated." In the 20th century, the forest was further drained in order to reforest it. Forester Axel Horn would like to reverse these measures in order to preserve the habitat for the rare plants in the moor. In total, the nature reserve has an area of almost 80 hectares, says Horn. However, it doesn't look everywhere like it does in the clearing with the Gagel population. Most of the area is dry and wooded. The forester is taking care of stopping the old drainage system in the forest so that the solid ground will eventually disappear becomes a moor again. He receives support from the “Hegering Agger-Sieg” association.