Aarhus turns 300 hectares of farmland into wild nature

Aarhus Municipality has transformed 300 hectares of intensively farmed land south of the city into woodland and natural areas, showing what farmland could be used for in the future, Danish broadcaster DR reports.

The land, equivalent to around 420 football pitches, was still being cultivated three years ago. The municipality ended its agreements with farmers, bringing an end to tractors and slurry tankers in the area.

Nature has since begun to return. Among the new arrivals is a wasp spider, known for its yellow, white and black stripes, striking colours and large webs. Cattle now graze in the area.

“Although I work with this every day, I am surprised by how quickly nature has moved in, and by how many species can be found here after such a short time,” said Peter Søgaard, a programme manager at Aarhus Municipality. “You essentially just have to give nature room to work.”

The project is being presented as an example of what Denmark could achieve through the green tripartite agreement adopted by Parliament in 2024. The agreement includes plans to establish 250,000 hectares of new forest and convert 140,000 hectares of low-lying farmland.

Aarhus politicians were able to approve the project four years ago because the municipality already owned the 300 hectares. The land had been leased for farming for many years, and one of the first steps was to remove old drainage pipes.

Removing the drainage made the land much wetter, leading to the formation of small lakes and streams. Twenty-seven butterfly species have now been recorded in the area, including the orange tip, which lives in damp, flower-rich meadows, marshes and open woodland across much of Denmark. A wide variety of bird species has also moved in.

The municipality has spent six million kroner on the project. The Climate Forest Fund has additionally provided funding to establish new woodland.

“It is not just about nitrogen. When we take farmland out of production, we also want to make it pleasant to visit. It should benefit biodiversity and improve the quality of life in the municipality,” said Nicolaj Bang, Aarhus’s councillor for technical affairs and the environment.

Aarhus Municipality aims to have 16,000 hectares of forest and nature by 2045, equivalent to one-third of its total area. So far, 8,700 hectares are covered by forest and nature.

Bang said the municipality was on track to pass 10,000 hectares by 2030 if its plans succeed.