Barnbruch

The Barnbruch is a wetland of international importance in the old glacial valley of the river Aller that provides a habitat for endangered species of birds, amphibians and insects.

It lies between the city of Wolfsburg and town of Gifhorn and consists of an enclosed woodland area of around 1,500 hectares (3,700 acres) with surrounding meadows and pastures.

Following a state treaty in 1860 between Prussia, the Kingdom of Hanover and Duchy of Brunswick over the regulation of the Aller and the Ohre, work began on draining the area.

Up to 1770 the swampy Bruchwald was not forested and pine trees only grew on a few higher points (sand dunes of ice age origin).

The high levels of ground water and periodic flooding created alder groves which were largely inaccessible to people.