The natterjack toad will hopefully soon accept the refurbished sandpits as habitat. © Joachim Rutschke
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Project of the month
#04/2024 Sandpits in Albstedt
A new jigsaw piece in the biotope network for the natterjack toad (district of Cuxhaven)
The socalled ‘Albstedter Sande’ are located on the southern edge of the district of Cuxhaven. Passers-by may look in vain for a sign for a nature reserve or SAC, but there is a special habitat hidden here: The old sand extraction pits, with their waterbodies and diggable soil, can offer pioneer species such as the endangered natterjack toad ideal conditions for reproduction and survival. Although a mapping survey carried out in 2020 did not detect any animals in the two sandpits in Albstedt, it confirmed the site's restoration potential. In addition, the nearest evidence of natterjack toads is only 700 to 1000 metres away. As this toad species can migrate several kilometres, there is a good chance that the pits will be recolonised. The focal species common spadefoot and sand lizard could also benefit from the measure, even if no evidence of them has yet been found in the area.
Without initial restoration, however, a colonisation of the areas would not have taken place as for the open-land-loving species the two pits were still too overgrown with willows, poplars and blackberry. The existing waterbodies were also too deep and too static and lacked suitable structures in the terrestrial habitat. The lower nature conservation authority of the district of Cuxhaven therefore registered the sandpits in Albstedt for the fourth project phase of the LIFE IP Atlantic Region DE. The private owner agreed and works began at the end of February 2024. An amphibian expert took over the ecological construction supervision.
In each of the two pits, the contracted company created a new temporary spawning pond on a working area of around 400 square metres. The excavated soil was used as a sand habitat in the neighbouring areas. The used tracked excavator built smaller embankments with the excavated material and created open sandy areas to enhance the terrestrial habitat. The excavator also rehabilitated the existing waterbodies by removing willows and reeds. Most of the trees and shrubs in the pit were also shredded and removed. Completion of the work in the sand biotope and the creation of further small waterbodies was postponed until autumn 2024 due to the high water levels in the areas.
The sandpits in Albstedt are now part of the existing biotope network of pits and other habitats in this part of the district of Cuxhaven. All parties involved are excited to see if and when the natterjack toad will discover and colonise the newly created sand pits.
