Eichhall Nature Forest Reserve

Here the forest is left to itself and can develop without human intervention. 😊

NATURAL FOREST RESERVE – What is it?
Natural forest reserves are forests that are largely in a natural state.
Natural forest development takes place here undisturbed. Over time,
“primeval” forests with strong trees and lots of dead wood emerge. In Bavaria there are 159 natural forest reserves with an area of more than 7,000 hectares.
For the Bavarian Forestry Administration, they are a kind of open-air laboratory.
Here, scientists collect data on the natural forest and its development, as well as on the species-rich flora and fauna. The data provides valuable insights for foresters and forest owners on how they can manage their forests in a natural way. Especially in times of climate change, these tips are important so that healthy and stable forests can continue to grow in Bavaria in the future.
For more information, visit:
naturwaldreservate.de

EUROPEAN NATURAL HERITAGE
The Eichhall natural forest reserve is located in the middle of the Spessart in the district of Aschaffenburg.
The reserve is part of the FFH area (Flora-Fauna-Habitat) Hochspessart and the European bird sanctuary Spessart.
It is located in the state forest and is managed by the Rothenbuch forestry company of the Bavarian State Forests.
The 67-hectare area is part of the "Heisterblock", famous for its oak trees, and was designated a natural forest reserve in 2003.LOCATION
Around 250 million years ago, very sandy rock materials, sometimes several hundred meters thick, were deposited, which were baked into red sandstone by strong pressure.
Due to faults in the earth's crust and erosion, these rock layers came back to the surface and form the bedrock of the Spessart.Layered sandy soils, which are mostly low in nutrients, have developed on this geological subsoil.FOREST COMMUNITY
The beech tree naturally dominates the Spessart. Under the dense, dark canopy of oak and beech leaves, there is only a very sparse ground flora with white woodrush and quaking sedge. Mosses such as maidenhair moss form small carpets.
This type of forest, which is poor in vegetation, is known as a “woodrush beech forest”.
The oak tree has been promoted and cared for by people in the Spessart for centuries.