Top 7 Natural Monuments around Zepkow

The Kieve Polder is a successful example of modern peatland restoration and active climate protection. The approximately 65-hectare area was intensively used for agriculture until 2012 and was severely affected by drainage. As part of an ambitious project, it was rewetted to restore the natural water balance and halt the decomposition of the peat – a crucial step towards reducing CO₂ emissions. At the same time, the area developed into a diverse habitat: bog plants returned, rare animal species found new habitats, and biodiversity visibly increased. The project was the first of its kind in the world to be financed through MoorFutures certificates, an innovative concept for the voluntary promotion of climate protection measures. Today, the Kieve Polder represents not only ecological regeneration but also a forward-looking interplay of nature conservation, sustainability, and regional responsibility.

The Kieve Polder is a restored moorland that was rewetted as part of a large-scale climate protection project. The approximately 65-hectare area was previously heavily drained and used for agriculture. When the project began in 2012, the water level was deliberately raised to slow peat decomposition and thereby reduce CO₂ emissions. At the same time, ecological diversity was promoted, as the rewetting led to the return of typical moorland plants and animal species. The project was the first of its kind worldwide to be financed through MoorFutures certificates – an innovative method for supporting voluntary climate protection measures. Today, the Kieve Polder not only contributes to climate protection but also provides a valuable habitat for numerous bird species and is an example of successful moorland restoration.

A very beautiful natural monument, a real eye-catcher.

Swans and wild geese can be found here in the evening time.

Definitely worth a detour. When approaching from Neukrug: There is no path directly across the field, but it is easy to drive along the edge of the forest in autumn. In summer the path is certainly too sandy.

The crown oak is near Minzow in the middle of the forest next to the Hagen forester's lodge. The forester's house was built at the end of the 19th century as a wood warden and named after the fierce Hagen, the first forest warden to look after the city forest. The name Kron is derived from Slavic and means crane. It is not known whether cranes used to breed near or on the oak. The oak is in the area of the town of Röbel, but is consistently attributed to Minzow in the literature. The northeast-sloping trunk begins strong and massive, tapering off rapidly. The monumental trunk is heavily covered with moss, especially towards the road. The oak was struck by lightning several times. A lightning strike left a large gap on the south side, which was sealed with bricks. Several gnarled branches go off the trunk. The lower branches are dead or broken off. The rather high crown is quite irregular due to several broken branches. The vitality of the oak is still quite good. With a breast height of 9.90 m, the crown oak is one of the ten thickest oaks in Germany. www.monumentale-eichen.de/mecklenburg-vorpommern/minzow

The Crown Oak stands near Minzow in the middle of the forest next to the Hagen Forester's House. The forester's house was built at the end of the 19th century as a timber keeper's house and named after the grim Hagen, the first forester to look after the city forest. The name "Kron" is derived from the Slavic word "crane." It is unknown whether cranes once nested near or on the oak. The oak stands within the territory of the town of Röbel, but in literature it is consistently attributed to Minzow. The trunk, leaning to the northeast, begins strong and massive, then quickly tapers. The monumental trunk is heavily covered in moss, especially toward the road. The oak has been struck by lightning several times. A lightning strike left a large gap on the south side, which was then closed with bricks. Several gnarled branches extend from the trunk. The lower branches are dead or broken off. The relatively tall crown is quite irregular due to several broken branches. The oak's vitality is still quite good. With a breast height circumference of 9.90 m, the Crown Oak is one of the ten thickest oaks in Germany. https://www.monumentale-eichen.de/mecklenburg-vorpommern/minzow/

In the idyllic Rohrteich, which is actually a lake due to its size, it was teeming with lots of tiny tadpoles today. We haven't seen so many in one place for a long time. Hopefully as many of them as possible survive and grow into large frogs after the metamorphosis.