Of warriors, newts, and fens

Wenigerweiher with its shoreline vegetation is a nationally important amphibian spawning area. Alpine newt, common toad, water frog, grass frog, palmate newt, and smooth newt thrive here. The fen near the pond is also particularly valuable. The plain in the Loch area next to the still young Steinach river also has historical significance. On May 15, 1403, the Battle of Vögelinsegg took place here. An abbey army, reinforced by troops from St. Gallen, moved towards Speicher to attack Appenzell from there. However, in the forest behind the Loch farm, the attackers fell into an ambush by the Appenzellers and their allies, the Schwyz, and the army fled back to St. Gallen.