Stover Forest

The “Stover Holz” forest is a riparian forest. Riparian forests are special forests that are adapted to river flooding. The “Stover Holz” forest was located in the floodplain of the Elbe until the new Elbe dike was built in the 1970s. Since the forest is slightly higher than the Elbe, it was flooded less frequently and therefore, in contrast to the trees directly on the river bank, it has not developed as a softwood floodplain forest but as a hardwood floodplain forest.

Floodplain forests are among the most threatened forests in Central Europe and among the most species-rich habitats in our latitudes. They provide a habitat for a variety of animal and plant species, including numerous rare and endangered species. Characteristic of hardwood riparian forests are, for example, orioles, nightingales and various species of woodpeckers such as the green woodpecker.

Typical trees of this forest type are oaks, ash, maple and in Stover Holz there is also a very special tree, the white elm, which is otherwise only rarely found. A particularly magnificent specimen can be found in this floodplain forest on the campsite, easily recognizable by its buttress roots. It is the only native tree that can develop these roots. Some oak trees in Stover Holz have a trunk circumference of over 4m and are therefore over 300 years old.

For over 65 years, the Stover Holz campsite has nestled in the forest clearing on this riparian forest. It borders the 1,000-year-old, listed Elbe dike in the south and the new Elbe dike in the north. In front of the Elbe dike, the campsite has a meadow and leisure area with a wide sandy Elbe beach, where you can relax wonderfully in summer!