Västra Harg deciduous forests

Nature reserve

In the transition from flat landscapes to forest landscapes lies Västra Harg. A mosaic of deciduous forests, pastures, lakes, and wetlands.

You can take a walk on the trail around the small bird lake Aren or go up to the bird tower and hear the cranes honking. During a visit to the reserve, you have a great chance of seeing herons, but also ospreys and honey buzzards.

The area around Västra Harg is an old agricultural landscape. Around Kilarpesjön and Hargsjön, there are several large farms and manors. The area's rich soils and good conditions for hunting and fishing, among other things, have historically attracted powerful people. In fact, as early as the Middle Ages, as the ruins of Svaneholm Castle testify.

Large areas of what is today lush deciduous forests have previously been used as meadows and pastures. The forests have a very high natural value primarily related to aspen and oak, and the rich availability of old trees and dead wood. Here, woodpeckers of several different species can be found, from the large black woodpecker to its smallest cousin, the lesser spotted woodpecker. In the hollow trees, species such as the wood pigeon, common cuckoo, and tawny owl nest.

The area's flora of lichens and fungi is particularly rich and exclusive, with several rare species. Notable examples include old-man's beard lichen, grey witch's broom lichen, broom lichen, and parasitic lichen. A total of 30 nationally red-listed species have been found in the area in recent years.

In spring, the deciduous forest floor blooms most beautifully with a multitude of anemones and other spring flowers. In more open areas, there is also a good amount of night violet, buttercups, and bride's brush, which testify to the past practice of mowing.

On the still open and managed pastures and meadows, the floral splendor is particularly rich. Here, for example, there is an abundance of virgin's bower, bride's bread, meadow knapweed, night violet, heliotrope, quaking grass, pill sedge, snake's root, meadow buttercup, hog's fennel, meadow rattlesnake, and in some places, cat's foot.