Alvena lindaräng, Naturreservat

The Alvena lime meadow is a nature reserve that in late spring and early summer offers the visitor both flowers and birdsong. The meadow is also the only one on Gotland where lime is the dominant tree species.

Alvena lindaräng, located just east of Vallstena church, is one of Gotland's largest still maintained meadows. The meadow, which is a remnant of a much larger area of meadowland until the mid-19th century, is dominated by a sparse deciduous forest of lime, oak, ash and elm. Many of the lime trees, ash trees and elms are pollarded.

The meadow is rich in herbs. During April-May, species such as cornflower, wood anemone, yellow anemone, water lily, cowslip, spring pea, wood violet, corn marigold and St. Peter's keys are particularly noticeable. Later, meadowsweet, daisy, hay rattle, pig's root, hay fever and cluster fever blossom, as well as orchids such as soapwort, night violet, woodruff and briar. The meadow is also home to several rare fungi, including devil's club mushrooms. The latter species has only been found in Sweden in a few places on Öland and Gotland.

The area has a rich bird life with some 20 breeding bird species. Among the most common are hole builders such as collared flycatchers, jackdaws, starlings, tawny owls and blue tits.

When you walk around Alvena lime meadow, you can hardly fail to notice all the stone circles of various kinds in the meadow. These are the remains of the settlements and enclosures that existed here during the early Iron Age around 2000 years ago.