The Tävsmoor and the town’s documented history reveal two different sides of Appen. The Tävsmoor is located within the municipality and forms the northern part of the approximately 150-hectare Tävsmoor/Haselauer Moor Nature Reserve. For trip planning, this means a specifically named natural area and a historical perspective through the local history archive sit side by side.

The Tävsmoor and its rules

The nature reserve drains into the Pinnau via the Appener Beek. When walking in the nature reserve, stay on the paths; dogs must be kept on a leash. These rules provide a clear framework for a walk, especially if you are bringing a dog. Appener See originated as a former gravel pit—another distinctive landscape feature that tells the story of earlier land use.

Biodiversity in the nature reserve

More than 300 vascular plant species grow across the nature reserve; at least 40 species are listed on Schleswig-Holstein’s Red List of Ferns and Flowering Plants. In addition, more than 100 bird species have been observed there, including 53 documented breeding bird species. These figures highlight different aspects: for plants, the focus is on the number of species and their Red List status; for birds, it is on the species observed and the separately documented breeding species. Nature enthusiasts can thus explore plant diversity and birdlife as distinct features of the nature reserve.

Nature education at Gut Schäferhof

Schäferhof is considered a destination for day trips and plays a role in environmental education. At the Gut Schäferhof nature discovery area, several information stations explain local nature; there is also an educational garden and an observation station by the lake. The demonstration and educational garden has hands-on stations for learning about nature. One striking feature is the “Herb Man”: an herb garden shaped like a person. Information, hands-on learning and the observation station each offer a different approach to nature education.

Wedeler Au Regional Park

Appen is one of the municipalities participating in the cross-border Wedeler Au Regional Park. The regional park offers signposted cycling routes through meadows, pastures, forests and tree nurseries. Its three themed routes are called the Elbe Route, the Dune Route and the Forest Route. This offers a different way to choose an outing than a walk in the nature reserve: in the Tävsmoor, path and leash rules apply, while the regional park’s signposted cycling routes and named themed routes provide guidance. In Pinneberg, the Fahlt is a local recreation area for walking, jogging and sports.

1269 and the local history archive

Appen was first documented in a deed of gift issued by Heinrich von Barmstede on 19 September 1269. The local history archive is located in municipal premises at Gärtnerstraße 10. It is a five-minute walk from the Bouhlentwiete bus stop. Visits should be arranged by email. If you are planning a visit to the archive, you can make arrangements in advance and include the walk from the bus stop in your plans.

Discover more destinations: Bönningstedt, Borstel-Hohenraden, Quickborn, Bevern, Holm, Heede, Helgoland, Lutzhorn

See the overview of destinations in the wider area: Pinneberg.