Großes Moor (near Becklingen)

The Großes Moor near Becklingen is a nature reserve in Germany with an area of 850ha, of which 666ha lie in Celle district and 184ha in Soltau-Fallingbostel district. Since 16 December 1985 the area has been protected under conservation law. An area of 776.6ha is designated as a special area of conservation . The name literally means "Large Bog near Becklingen" and it lies on the Lüneburg Heath, south of Wietzendorf and east of Becklingen, part of the borough of Bergen. The River Meiße has its source in this raised bog.DevelopmentThe original bog had been drained since the 1950s and largely converted to grassland in order to establish small rurul settlements here. Since then the state of Lower Saxony has purchased large areas. Through water retention measures it is intended that the original bog landscape can be recreated. Problems are being caused, though, by cultivated blueberries and black cherries, neophytes that have become widespread across the area.