Tversted Duneplantation/Tversted Klitplantage
The plantation is one of the oldest of the dune plantations under the auspices of North Jutland State Forest District. It began life in 1858 and now has an area of some 775 hectares. The plantation has a relatively sheltered location at the base of the bay of Tannisbugt.

In the northern part of the dune plantation, just inside the outermost row of dunes, you find Tversted Søerne, lakes which were artificially formed in 1948-1952 following the construction of a dam on the path of the brook, "Hvarrebæk".

A quiet idyllic lake is hardly what you'd expect to find at such a site, but this contrast appears to be attractive to many.

The lakes are popular sites for mallards, coots and moorhens. Next to the lakes at the top of Hvarrebakken is a viewing tower, from where the entire plantation can be seen.

A genuine forest feel

The passing of time has given Tversted Plantage a genuine forest feel that's lacking at many newer plantations, with the beautiful old growths of Scots pine and picturesque groups or single trees of Austrian pine.

The best forest is found in the southern half of the plantation (acquired in 1888), where the topsoil was drifting sand, but with relatively level terrain following earlier cultivation, and where a suitable water table and access to layers of peat or covered layers of topsoil often gave good growth conditions once the vegetation had become established.

Chamberlain H.C. Riegels and dune planter P.C. Weirum

In 1857 new legislation on sand migration was adopted, according to which dune regions could be expropriated for afforestation. Nr. Elkjær's 600-acre, protected dune area facing out onto the bay of Tannisbugt was deemed to be suitable, and under the overall leadership of chamberlain H.C. Riegel and with dune planter P.C. Weirum as the on-site manager, planting began in autumn 1858 with 2,000 small white spruce plants.

Work began in a number of lush grass dunes just north of the planter's residence and west of the high hill of Hvarrebakke. This entire area, in which planting continued during subsequent years, thus makes up the oldest part of Tversted Plantage.

Believed most in white spruce and Austrian pine

The pace soon quickened and in 1860/61 more than 400,000 plants of the species white spruce, Austrian pine, mountain pine and silver fir were planted, although the founders remained somewhat uncertain with regard to the choice of species of tree.

Based on initial experience, there was greatest belief in white spruce and Austrian pine as the main tree species, but a wide range of deciduous and coniferous trees were also planted, only a few of which had a chance of survival.

Stubbornness prevailed

Disappointments and setbacks were also common, but human stubbornness prevailed and as common mountain pine gradually became acknowledged as the most reliable all-round pioneer tree species in the dunes, planting progressed at a considerable rate. 

However, Tversted Plantage - with its highly varied soil - encouraged the use of other tree species to a great degree, in particular Scots pine, which has always had a notably attractive development here.

A real rarity in the midst of everything

In the middle of the open area is a barn with a thatched roof, the remains of the parallel farm "Østerklit", whose cob-built timber-framed house burnt down in 1981. Above the barn is an old post mill in which all the parts are maintained intact and which today is a great rarity.