Description
The area was part of an EU LIFE project where non-indigenous spruce plantations have been removed and the meandering course of streams restored until 2014. Since then, the clearcut areas have been developed under natural succession and represent an interesting mosaic of semi-open dry and swampy habitats. The surrounding forest was partially damaged by 2007 windstorm "Kyrill" and thus also contains clearings and semi-open windthrow areas.
Seven species of woodpeckers can be seen and heard along the trail (črna žolna, pivka, zelena žolna, veliki detel, srednji detel, mali detel and vijeglavka). Other interesting forest birds include sloka, črnoglavi muhar, grmovščica, rdečeglavi kraljiček, gorska sinica, menišček, čopasta sinica, krivokljun, carar and mali skovik. The semi-open patches provide habitat for drevesna cipa, rjavi srakoper, divja grlica, kobiličar, severni kovaček, prosnik and rumeni strnad. krokar and črna štorklja are visitors. Along the river, vodomec, povodni kos and siva pastirica can be encountered.
Details
Access
There is a car park at Neuhaus. From there use the A7 hiking trail (circular walk of about 7 km, see the map). The trail leads along the river valley which can be best explored by foot.
