Nature Route Goslar - Route 1

The green city walk begins at Schuhhof, the oldest square in Goslar. The facade of the Hirsch Pharmacy is greened, thus providing an ecological enhancement in the urban area. Positive effects are proven, e.g., as a habitat for small animals, birds or insects, or as an air filter. Facade colonizers such as ivy protect houses from moisture, cool in summer, and help save heating costs in winter. Additionally, wild vine, fleeceflower knotweed, and woodbine grow there. In the center of Schuhhof, you will find a linden tree. Also, on the adjacent marketplace, you can find individual trees that are of particular importance to urban habitats. They produce oxygen and filter dust and exhaust gases. From the marketplace, continue to the Christian-von-Dohm-Platz. From there, follow the path along the Abzucht. The banks here are very unnatural and are formed by the old stone walls that make the Abzucht flow like a canal. With some calm and time, you can even spot trout in the water. On Glockengießerstraße below the St. Anne’s House, you learn about different aspects of wall vegetation. Some wall residents prefer the sunny side, such as toadflax, mosses, and lichens. Other plants, like wall rue (a fern), prefer the shady side. On your green city walk, you will next reach the ramparts. While their medieval purpose was to fend off enemies, today they represent a piece of species- and structure-rich green lungs of the city of Goslar. This section of the ramparts is characterized by tree growth, and you can see some very old trees here. Ponds such as the Juden pond and the Kahnteich enliven the cityscape and offer a good resting opportunity for those seeking relaxation. For many water-adapted animal and plant species, they form an indispensable habitat. You will notice that there is much life in and around the ponds. Regular guests at the ponds are mallards. The lush spread of the aquatic plant hornwort can be an indication of an algal bloom. The short nature route leads you past the Imperial Palace over the Hohen Weg back to the starting point at Schuhhof. On your way, you will pass species-rich gardens and front yards that serve as habitats for animals. Buzzing bees and bumblebees, grasshoppers, and shimmering beetles are just a few examples of the thousands of small inhabitants of a meadow or a flowerbed.

Bund for Environment and Nature Conservation (BUND) e.V.
District Group Goslar
Petersilienstr. 23, 38640 Goslar
Tel. 05321 43968
E-mail: bund.goslar@freenet.de 
www.bund-westharz.de