A Natura2000 site, recognized for its Hornbeam woodland, the Schlosspark is an area of forest, meadows, lakes and the formal gardens of the Nymphenburg Palace, just west of Munich city centre, once the hunting park of the Hohenzoller family, one of those families of German minor royalty that went out of fashion somewhat during the 20th century… This is an area I have visited many times over the years, where on previous visits I have almost tripped over a stripy young Roe Deer, hiding amongst the long grass, chased Sand Lizards amongst the leaf litter, and stared into the blazing eyes of a Goshawk one memorable winter’s day as he eyed up the local Red Squirrels for his next meal… it’s certainly a bit different to my local park back home in Derbyshire, that’s for sure.
But this morning, things looked a little different to the last time I visited. As I walked through the forest towards the open meadows of the park, rings of chicken wire started to appear around some of the trees. And as I got closer to the lake, it soon became clear why. Amongst the many wire-protected trunks were fallen trees, piles of chippings and the almost comic book, hour-glass ‘nibblings’ of trees being felled… Beavers have arrived!