Vaktbackar, Naturreservat

There are few places on southern Gotland from which you can look out over the stunning landscape. Vaktbackar is one such place - from the top, on a clear day, you can see for at least a couple of miles, all the way up to Grötlingbo church.

Vaktbackar nature reserve is located on the southern part of Västerbackar, the hilly hill that dominates the northwestern part of Sundre parish. The hilly area is characterized by open rocky areas that lack soil cover or are only covered by a thin layer of weathering gravel. However, the highest part, located in the northeastern part of the reserve, is covered by a layer of beach gravel up to 2 meters thick. The gravel has been deposited in distinctive embankments that surround the crest in rings. The highest part of this beach gravel deposit reaches as much as 45.3 meters above sea level, making it the highest point on southern Gotland. During the fall, therefore, the watch hills are a good place for raptor scouting.

Characteristic plants in the reserve are gravelwort, sheep's fescue, elder, tulkört, solvända, field wormwood, thyme, thistle and spring daisy. The shrub layer is dominated by low-growing junipers. In spring, the spring daffodil blooms in large numbers. In high summer, Apollo butterflies can be seen flying in large numbers over the reserve's alvar fields.