Alluvial forest near Westheim

	Alluvial forest near Westheim IUCN Category IV - Habitat / Species Management Area
	Topographic map
location	southwest of Westheim
surface	50.23
WDPA ID	162305
Geographical location	49 ° 0 ' N , 10 ° 38' E Coordinates: 48 ° 59 '39 " N , 10 ° 38' 17" E
Setup date	1979
administration	Weissenburg-Gunzenhausen district

The alluvial forest near Westheim is a nature reserve and FFH area southwest of the Central Franconian community of Westheim in Bavaria .

With 50.23 hectares , it is the largest contiguous alluvial forest area in southern Central Franconia. Most of the area is in the Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen district ; only 0.06 hectares are located in the Swabian district of Donau-Ries . The westernmost point of the Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen district is located in the alluvial forest.

The alluvial forest forms a closed wet forest area, which is characterized by black alder - ash - swamp forests . Ash, alder , bog birch , marsh marigolds and white elm are native to the region. A small body of water and wet meadows are home to a large variety of species including woodpeckers , bats , small mammals , beetles and butterflies . The abundant bird species include black woodpeckers , stock pigeons and orioles . The nature reserve was designated in 1979.

The small pond moat flows through the forest . In its area are the ground monuments of a Hallstatt burial mound field and medieval castle stables as well as a presumably leveled burial mound from prehistoric times.

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