Espel nature reserve

The protected area "Former Espel Gravel Pit" is located on the municipal territory of the town of Gossau, close to the border with the neighboring municipality of Flawil. It lies on a gravel terrace deposited by ice-age melt waters between the present-day Glatt in the west and the Gossau village stream in the north. The area originated from a former gravel pit and was placed under protection in 1980. It has significant amphibian occurrences and is an amphibian spawning area of national importance (No. SG 600). In 2018, the city of Gossau handed over the 5.5 ha parcel to Pro Natura. As the succession had progressed far into forestry, Pro Natura had a new maintenance and development concept drawn up. The first new spawning waters were already created in 2019. In 2020/21, further enhancement measures were implemented and the protected area was marked according to a newly developed visitor guidance concept. The nature reserve is maintained by a group of volunteers in cooperation with a farmer.