Södra Skummeslöv, Naturreservat

White beaches, open dunes and imaginative pine forests. With its unique nature, Södra Skummeslöv attracts large numbers of visitors all year round. A diversity of plants and animals also thrive here, so keep your eyes and ears open during your visit! The open sandy areas are home to many red-listed insects, some species are only found here and in a few other places in Sweden and Europe.

Works in the reserve Södra Skummeslöv

Dismantle wastewater treatment plant

The municipality is currently decommissioning the treatment plant in Allarp and Hemmeslöv. The first stage is the pumping station at Strandheden and it is expected to be completed before the end of the year. After that, they will gradually dismantle various buildings and basins inside the treatment plant area.

Questions related to the work are referred to Laholm municipality. For reserve questions, contact the reserve administration at naturreservat.halland@lansstyrelsen.se.

Combat water primrose

During the fall, we will follow up the water lily digging that was done last year by digging away emerged annual shoots of water lily. There will be a couple of smaller excavators digging up the cattails and also scraping out new firebreaks. Firebreaks are a burn preparation measure so that we can carry out safe conservation burns on the heath in the future.

If you have any questions about the work linked to the control of heath rose, please contact us at the County Administrative Board in Halland County, naturreservat.halland@lansstyrelsen.se.

The coastal area in Södra Skummeslöv is unique and nationally valuable with its sandy heath with a high lime content. More than 40 red-listed species have been found in the area, and it is especially the part near the beach that is very rich in species. Several of the insects found here are only found in a few places in the country and Europe. Several very unusual beetles, wasps and bees live here, such as the flying sand wasp, which is strongly bound to open sandy areas. In the dune slopes, you can find eye pyrola and the yellow-white orchid knotweed.

Half of the reserve consists of sea

It is not only nature on land that is protected. Almost half of the reserve's surface goes out to sea. The marine area consists mainly of sandy seabeds between zero and three meters deep. Shallow bottoms are important spawning and nursery areas for several species, such as flatfish. Sand shrimps, bristle worms and mussels also thrive here.

Planted pine forest

The pine forest in the reserve has only been here for just over 100 years. Until the end of the 19th century, the area was a treeless flying sand field with flowering sand heaths. The sandy field had long been used as pasture by local farmers. Peat and seaweed, and earlier also firewood and timber, were taken from here. But the intensive use of the land led to problems. In the 17th and 18th centuries, farmers became increasingly concerned about flying sand covering roads and crops. They first tried to stop the sand with fences and rice paddies, but eventually they had to take action. In an attempt to contain the sand, conifers were planted, as well as non-native species such as Scots pine and wild rose.

Endangered species to be saved

Today, sand drift is no longer a concern, but the opposite is true. The dunes have become overgrown with dense stands of grass, rice and shrubs. Many species that were once common are now red-listed or have disappeared completely. In the reserve, we are working to recreate and improve the habitats of species in the sandy areas. Through restoration, endangered species will be saved and lost species will have the opportunity to find their way back.

Swimming and exercise attract visitors

Södra Skummeslöv is located in a densely populated area and an important purpose of the reserve is to promote outdoor life. During the summer months, a large number of visitors come here to enjoy the sun and swimming. But many local residents use the area all year round, as can be seen from the many well-trodden paths that criss-cross the pine forest.

Strong currents in the sea

Laholmsbukten is shallow but can be affected by very strong currents and sudden seabed changes on windy days. If you are caught in the current, try to keep your course along the coastline to get out of the current.

Horse riding trails in the reserve

In Södra Skummeslöv there is a marked bridle path. Riding in the reserve may only be done at low speed on the marked trail. On the beach, the municipal regulations apply and riding there may only take place between September 16 and April 30. From March 1, we recommend that riding takes place south as there are ground-nesting birds within the reserve's beach environment, which are sensitive to disturbance.

Accessibility in the reserve

There is a stretch of the reserve that has been made more accessible for outdoor life. See map below. Parts of the stretch is a road where cars and trucks drive at 40 kilometers per hour, so the road requires attention and caution. From the reserve parking lot, you can choose to turn left on Simvägen, towards Skummeslövsbadet, which is open during the summer.

Then continue south towards Hemmeslöv. At the treatment plant, you can choose to take Allarpsvägen east towards the Kattegatt Trail or continue on the new footpath and cycle path down towards Hemmeslöv where the Kattegatt Trail connects. Choose to follow this trail north towards Allarpsvägen where you can turn left and then continue via the new Sandbivägen back to the reserve parking lot. It is also possible to continue a bit further on Kattegattleden and then take Simvägen back to the reserve parking lot.

Alternatively, to take these rounds backwards. We hope that this will make the area easier to visit for those who come with a stroller, wheelchair or walker and that in this way you will get a closer experience of the nature reserve's beautiful areas.