Kielstrup Sø and Mariager Fjord, Himmerland, North Jutland

 

"Stinesminde"

Let's have some photos from a warm September's day. I have been wallowing in winter-weather for I don't know how long, Now it's time for fetching a little sun and warmth. The first place we came to after having been in the forest of Rold in the morning was a small cosy fishing village, "Stinesminde" by Mariager fjord. We have been there before, and it is the nicest place to take a coffee- break! And the weather was perfect.

Mariager fjord

The place around Kielstrup sø and along Mariager fjord is a wonderful place to see on such a day. The view from the hills is wonderful both to Mariager fjord and to the lake. And along the fjord are little cosy marinas with a few boats.  It is really a place worth to keep for the public. It's good that something positive is done. Everything cannot be done at once, but it's good to know that this beautiful landscape is taken care of now.


I usually do not write so much about the nutrients, draining etc. of the farmland, but the following material was available, so I wanted to tell just a little about how much it means for the rare plant-species - as well for the insects that arrive and all the other animals - that a place is listed and protected. EU-habitat and Natura 2000 see to that the politicians just do not tramp all over the land, building holiday houses and hotels along the coast -  and not at least is it necessary to keep a watchful eye on the negative effects from the farmland. 

Mariager fjord

Kielstrup Sø

Kielstrup Sø is a diked laguna on the north side of Mariager fjord in North Jutland. The lake has brackish water and is influenced by nutrients, but it is run through with a clear-watered brook, Karls Møllebæk (mill brook). The lake is surrounded by steep heath hillsides,(up to 63 m above the fjord), moors, pastures, beach meadows, thicket and forest. An area of  509 hectare around Kielstrup Sø is selected as EU-habitat and a part of this are protected nature types. The main part is listed for its  landscape and view-value.

Painted Lady by the lake.

Although the area is overgrowth and nutrient- enriched are here still several rare plants and animals. The surroundings are dominated by heaths and chalky pastures and juniper-thicket, which is often is in a bad state because of overgrowth. The biggest values of the area are rigkær (rich marsh) and springs by the lake. In spite of a negative development are still some fine spots with fx. Marsh Helleborine, Tufted Fen-moss, Blunt-Flowered Rush and Butterwort. (see Latin names after article.) In one of the marsh-springs are still a few plants of the red-listed Gul stenbræk (Saxifraga hirculus).

View to the lake from the hill

view to Mariager fjord from the hill

grave hill

Threats:
There is some nutrient-impact from the air and from the nearby fertilized farmland. This is a threat to all nature types except beach meadows. In the nutrient-poor areas like heath, sour pastures and hængesæk (water is just under the moss) the tolerated limit is exceeded almost all over the area, and this means that large common plant-species can overgrow and force away small, rare and hardy plants. The lake also gets some surplus nutrients from the slopes around the lake, from drains and ditches and from Karls mill  brook.

My son in the thicket-overgrowth

A little marina along the fjord

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The overgrowth of trees, bushes and tall herbs in the whole area is an acute threat agsint most of the nature types in the area, worst in the rich marshes, in moist meadows and upon dry heaths. The overgrowth of fx some rush, spikes, reeds and some willow-species is the cause, why the plant Gul stenbræk (Saxifraga hirculus) has almost disappeared from its earlier suitable habitat. Drains and ditches are a threat to more than 75 % of the area. The drying also contributes to more overgrowth.

grazing of sheep

One of the calves in the cattle herd

Some plant-species are not native to the area, like Rosa rugosa, Broom and various species of fir and spruce, especially mountain pine is a problem on pastures and heaths.  The Eagle fern - which is of Danish origin - has also a negative effect on the low vegetation. This is partly due to that it gives shadow, partly that it sets free chemical substances, which works as a poison on other plants. ( allelopati )

The district of North Jutland has carried out nature-care in the listed areas. In 2006 was given public means for the care of the Saxifraga hirculus-localities in 10 habitats in Denmark, thus also Kielstrup sø,  which meant a much needed clearing and grazing in  parts of the area. Besides have there since 1997 been agreements in the Natura-2000 territory.

Source:
Danmarks Fugle og Natur, Mariager Fjord Kommune, Nordjylland /Naturhistorisk Museum, Århus.

Plant Names:
Marsh Helleborine/ Epipactis palustris/Danish: Sump-Hullæbe
Tufted Fenn-moss/Paludella squarrosa/ Danish: Piberensermos
Blunt-flowered Rush/Juncus subnodulosus/Danish: Butblomstret Siv.
Butterwort/Pinguicula vulgaris/ Danish: Vibefedt
Saxifraga/ Saxifraga hirculus/ Danish: Gul Stenbræk

Kielstrup sø

.photo September 2009: grethe bachmann