Rostock Heath
● Rostock
No German city or region has a larger contiguous coastal forest than Rostock. The Rostocker Heide covers approximately 6,000 hectares and stretches directly along the Baltic Sea coast from Markgrafenheide to the Baltic Sea resort of Graal-Müritz.
In 1252, Prince Heinrich Borwin III sold the Rostock Heath forest area to the city of Rostock. With a total area of over 6,000 hectares, it is Germany’s largest contiguous coastal forest.
Over the past centuries, this forest has undergone countless changes. Today, the Rostock Heath is not only essential for sustainable timber management and effective nature conservation but also a unique recreational area for hiking and biking. It boasts a diverse array of flora and fauna, and the mild, invigorating climate—a blend of Baltic Sea and forest air—provides ideal conditions for a healthy and rejuvenating stay. On the discovery trail and the thalassotherapy trails, you’ll discover the natural wonders—both big and small—of the local forests.
Since 1996, the entire Rostock Heath has been a landscape conservation area. It is also part of the European NATURA 2000 network of protected areas, which includes approximately 3,500 hectares of forest as the “Forests and Moors of the Rostock Heath” protected area (FFH site). The Rostock Heath is also home to the nature reserves Radelsee, Heiligensee/Hütelmoor, and Schnatermann. Since 2000, the management of the Rostock Heath by the City Forestry Office has been certified according to the standards of the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®). This certification is a globally recognized seal of quality for wood products and forest management, based on compliance with ten internationally binding principles and criteria.
The Rostock Heath, together with the Vorpommern Bodden Landscape, is one of Germany’s 30 biodiversity hotspots. The area encompasses a unique, diverse coastal landscape.
Colorful Flora:
The Rostock Heath provides ideal living conditions for a large number of plant and animal species. Its forested areas consist of 45% coniferous species (including pine, spruce, larch, fir, and Douglas fir) and 55% deciduous species (including beech, oak, birch, and alder). In total, there are currently 19 different conifer species and 44 different deciduous tree species in the Rostock Heath. In contrast, approximately 700 ha of the Rostock Heath consist of bogs, reed beds, and meadows. Particularly noteworthy are the presence of yew, holly, the carnivorous sundew, and numerous orchid species in the flora.
The “Sandacker” in Hinrichshagen is a unique feature. The area is a field flora reserve and is one of only three sites in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania where endangered field flora species have a refuge and are not facing extinction. Rare wild plants such as lady’s mantle, rye brome, sand poppy, as well as chamomile and cornflowers grow there undisturbed.
Diverse Wildlife:
In addition to martens, foxes, and badgers, the heath is home to roe deer, fallow deer, and wild boar, as well as red deer, which depend on large, contiguous, and as undisturbed as possible habitats. With a little luck and patience, you can spot not only these animals but also white-tailed eagles, gray herons, cranes, and kingfishers. The same goes for the diverse insect life in the forest and open areas. Far more elusive are the thirteen bat species that live in the Rostock Heath.