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Denmark has gained 300,000 square metres of new coastal nature. Located east of the tunnel factory at Rødbyhavn, the new area has been created using material excavated from the trench for the Fehmarnbelt tunnel. It is the first section of a total of seven kilometres of coastal nature and is open to anyone wishing to observe the landscape’s development at close quarters.
The opening was marked on Tuesday afternoon, 1 September, with a community run organised in partnership with the local running club EGI Løberne, joined by pupils from Bindernæs Efterskole and neighbours from the surrounding area. This was followed by a guided nature walk through Denmark’s newest piece of land.
The new landscape has been designed as varied coastal terrain and includes three ponds intended to support wildlife and plant life. The area has also been designed to withstand the harsh conditions along the belt, including strong winds, waves and exposure to sea salt.
“We have reused material from the seabed to create an area where people can experience distinctive coastal nature, with walking trails, ponds and wildlife including birds, amphibians and insects,” says Ditte Hjort, Project Manager for nature initiatives at Sund & Bælt.
The intention is to allow nature, as far as possible, to develop on its own terms, with plants and wildlife gradually colonising the area from nearby natural habitats. In a few places, however, soil that was removed and stored before the adjacent tunnel factory was built has been spread across the site. The soil contains plant seeds that will gradually disperse naturally throughout the new landscape.
“What makes the new area so special is that visitors can follow nature’s development right from the outset. We hope it will become a unique experience for visitors, with salt marshes and rich, diverse wildlife and plant life,” says Ditte Hjort.
