Hvidbjerg Aa, Noerhaa Soe, Ovesoe, and Oerum Soe – like beads on a string
Hvidbjerg Aa is the stream connecting the great and impressive lakes of southern Thy: Noerhaa Soe, Ovesoe and Oerum Soe. The stream creates a special coherence between the individual lakes and their surrounding forests of reed, moist marshes, meadows and pools. Through the river valley and along the banksides of the lakes several small spring areas and alkaline fens can be found. Particularly fine alkaline fens with numerous rare and characteristic species are found especially along the eastern bank of Ove Soe and also the northern bank of Oerum Soe.
Hvidbjerg Aa is a unique stream with small, but species-rich alkaline fens like beads on a string among dry and moist meadows, lakes with common newt and more ordinary grass areas. This is one of the most exceptional stream sections in Thy, and while taking a break during your canoe trip you can find several species of orchids, the impressive common newt with its orange belly, the great crested newt and the rare moor frog.
The alkaline fens must be rescued
With RigKilde LIFE we wish to secure the impressive string of alkaline fens rich in species along the stream from disruption. To achieve this we will not only secure and improve the existing alkaline fens, but also create the conditions for new areas of alkaline fens to develop. Furthermore we wish to improve breeding and living conditions for the moor frog and the great crested newt.
We will examine:
- Where in the area the habitats are found.
- Whether any special species are found in the area.
- Whether the water level in the area is suitable – for both nature and landowner.
In addition we will be able to promote the fine nature preservation in the area by:
- Clearing overgrown nature areas.
- Establish or improve the conditions for grazing/preservation of the areas.
- Establish advantageously water level – for both nature and landowner.
- Reestablish open water surfaces.
We turn things around
Despite the wide extent of Hvidbjerg Aa including the areas greatest lakes, the stream area comprises a relatively small area of nature. Agricultural land is the closest neighbor to several of the special habitats along the stream and banks of the lakes. This causes the alkaline fens to disappear over time resulting in the extinction of the great crested newt I the area.
As mentioned, valuable alkaline fens are still found along the streams, but if we want them to subsist, develop and spread out, an effort against current and future threats is necessary. As a baseline there is a lot of sense to protecting what good we already have and from here exploit the existing potential. For this reason Noerhaa Soe, Ovesoe, Oerum Soe and Hvidbjerg Aa is part of RigKilde LIFE.
A unique system of streams
Our goal is to increase the area of alkaline fens with 5 ha along the streams and banks of the lakes. With the proper water conditions and new clean waterholes we wish to create better breeding and living conditions for the moor frog and the great crested newt. We hope for the small amphibians to settle and become common inhabitants in the area in despite of their general rarity. If RigKilde LIFE is seen through; the streams, Nørhå Sø, Ovesø, Hvidbjerg Å and Ørum Sø become a remarkable area with valuable reserves, including delicate and orchid-rich alkaline fens and small waterholes with rare amphibians as common inhabitants.