The area is primarily characterized by the Leine River, flanked by near-natural willow gallery forests and tall herbaceous meadows, as well as its partially near-natural and richly structured adjacent floodplains.
In the north, there are extensive areas of agriculturally used grassland with varying levels of moisture and intensity of use. Smaller areas include scattered arable land, forest and shrub stands with varying soil moisture levels, and natural flood channels. The woody course of the meandering and heavily silted Old Leine River, with occurrences of, among others, the silt locust, is also characteristic. The southern part of the nature reserve, in contrast, is largely characterized by former marl and gravel mining waters. Riparian woody plants and small shrubs with varying levels of moisture and succession stages have developed along the banks. Agriculturally used grassland and arable land are only present in small areas here.
Many landscape elements, such as oxbow lakes, remnants of floodplain forests, or even open gravel areas and steep cliffs, which occasionally form due to flooding, are valuable remnants of the former floodplain dynamics, which continue to naturally develop new habitats in the floodplain between the terrace edges on both sides of the lower terrace.
The Leine River is of national importance as a supra-regional fish migration route and as a spawning and nursery water for migratory fish. Species such as brown trout, sea trout, and Atlantic salmon find habitat here. Otters and beavers also occur here. The area is also of great importance for bats, such as the greater mouse-eared bat and the pond bat.
Also worth emphasizing is the national and state importance of the nature reserve as a resting area for numerous migratory bird species and as a breeding ground for various water and meadow bird species. These include, for example, the great egret, white-fronted goose, great crested grebe, gadwall, tufted duck, goldeneye, and smew.
In addition to its significant importance for species and habitat conservation, the nature reserve also plays a significant role in providing environmentally friendly, peaceful recreational opportunities due to its proximity to the city, its unique diversity, uniqueness, and beauty.
Source: NLWKN