Schwentine Oxbow Lake

[1] It received this conservation status because the waterbody has remained close to its natural state due to its steep river banks and is a habitat for a range of rare plants and animals.

The Schwentine valley, in which the nature reserve lies, was formed from a chain of dead-icefields that were left behind after the last ice age.

After they had melted a chain of dammed-up lakes was formed and, when the water forced its way out, the present river valley of the Schwentine emerged.

Amongst the animal species occurring in the nature reserve are fish such as the trout, bleak, burbot and stickleback.

The hedgerows are used by many animals including the red-backed shrike, great spotted woodpecker and tawny owl.