Active on the water

Lake Würm

Lake Würmsee in Kleinburgwedel invites visitors to take a relaxing stroll along the nature trail, which features eight land art installations.

“There’s a real sense of vitality here—the lake never gets boring.” That’s what visitors say as they stroll along the shore of this small lake, located in the northern part of the Region Hannover. It is Lake Würmsee near Kleinburgwedel, which invites you to take a relaxing walk through greenery and blue waters. Here they can breathe in the fresh air, watch the dragonflies fly, and hear the call of the natterjack toad. Eight stations along the nature trail offer plenty of variety.
Wave-shaped loungers, a wooden pier, and bathing figures—a nod to the 1920s.

A Tradition of Tourism in Kleinburgwedel

The lake’s tourism tradition, with its golden 1920s, is highlighted at the first stop. There, two wavy lounge chairs on a wooden pier invite visitors to take a break and enjoy the lake view. Life-size figures dressed in period fashion stand by the railing. A man with a camera joins the bathing beauty in her sun hat; naturally, he’s only aiming his lens at the lake. Teenagers ready for a swim gaze into the distance. Engraved in light blue on the front plank of the pier, right at the water’s edge, are the words: “Holiday greetings from Lake Würmsee.” The ideal selfie spot. That has been thought of, too.
A contemporary witness recalls those days at Lake Würmsee with a broad smile: “We often sat in pairs a little way back from the lake behind the bushes and ‘got engaged’—that’s what they called it back then.” These days, swimming—and certainly boating—would be incompatible with the protection of the lake’s highly species-rich and diverse birdlife.

Guests pump the water themselves

Water level indicator on the metal platform

Visitors get hands-on: at one station, they can pump water themselves using three different-colored hand pumps. It flows down from the sky as rainwater from a cloud, runs naturally into the lake as shallow groundwater, or comes out of a faucet. “This way, everyone can get their hands dirty or get their feet wet—it creates a stronger connection to the lake than if there were just signs there,” says Frank Nordiek, describing part of the concept. He created the nature trail together with Wolfgang Buntrock from Atelier LandArt in Hannover.
The fluctuating water level plays an important role at another station. The two landscape artists designed a world first using terraced perforated grids on the shore—the walkable water level indicator. There, visitors can not only read the current water level on signs, but also walk barefoot into the water on the grid or stand on dry ground.

Extreme weather conditions, as seen under a magnifying glass

However, in addition to the drawbacks described, the fluctuating water level also has its advantages: what was a point of criticism six months ago during the drought—the lack of water—has now, following heavy rains in March 2020, transformed into a spectacular natural phenomenon thanks to the high water level. “It’s as if we’re observing the increasingly pronounced extremes of our weather through a magnifying glass at Lake Würmsee,” emphasizes Wolfgang Buntrock, adding: “It’s absolutely fantastic at the lake right now! With the high water level, it’s a completely different experience.”

How it all began

The revitalization of the lake began in 2016. Trees and shrubs were removed, and silt was cleared away. The goal was to restore the lake’s accessibility. Another stated objective was to provide information about the lake, its history, and its wildlife right on the shore.
Visitors surveyed in a report expressed clear needs: They wanted to walk around the lake, observe nature, drink coffee, and spend one to two hours by the lake. They love the contrast between forest and water, the water lilies, the chorus of frogs, the simplicity, and the fresh air. While there used to be a boat rental service and swimming was even permitted, neither has been possible for a long time. The highly fluctuating water level results in a large mudflat one year, while the next year the water stands half a meter high.

Three "peat eaters" pique curiosity

Not far from the walkable viewing platform, three red steel animals serve as a reminder of the area’s boggy past. These are the “Peat Eaters.” When the groundwater level is high, their feet stand in the remnants of a wetland biotope that is off-limits to visitors. But these eye-catching sculptures, standing about three meters tall, are easily visible from the path thanks to their red color. The color, which was the subject of heated debate at the start of the planning process, was ultimately accepted. “We happened to find an acorn there that was almost the same shade of red,” recalls Frank Nordiek.

Aquatic fauna on display as steel models on the boat

There has always been ample data on the birdlife. The situation is quite different, however, when it comes to aquatic fauna. To avoid relying on generalizations, a small-scale survey was conducted with an expert from the Lower Water Authority. Some of the species identified will be documented at a later stage. The landscape artists also came up with a fitting solution: at the end of a boardwalk built from staggered planks, a boat bobs in the water. Welded onto it are steel models of mayflies, water scorpions, water beetles, and mosquito larvae. This, too, offers a rich sensory experience. Especially since the jetty provides a magnificent vantage point for gazing into the evening sun. With a bit of luck, a kingfisher might even glide across the scene. Orioles, which love damp softwood floodplains, also find shelter nearby. A spectacular sight when the water level is low is the numerous gray herons, for whom food in the form of abundant fish is served as if on a golden platter.
From a bench on the other side of the lake, however, you can watch the morning sun; even better: the wooded bird island visible from there adorns Lake Würmsee. The view also takes in three stilted dwellings that the artists have built in the shore zone. Who would like to live in these seven-meter-high nests? “We leave that entirely to the imagination of the viewer,” explains Frank Nordiek. “One thing is certain: there is more around us than we can see or hear.”

Sitting on a bench, talking to the animals

Another exhibit is also impressive. There, a fox and a hare (as steel figures) sit next to you on a bench. Your gaze also falls on a heron, a toad, and a kingfisher. The theme is the question: What do I need to live? Humans: less than they think. Animals: more than they have. So everyone can ask themselves: What does my ecological footprint look like? What can I change in my daily life? How do my habits contribute to everything staying the same? Should it stay that way? What remains?