Bjällingsmåla, Naturreservat

The Bjällingsmåla nature reserve is located within walking distance of Alsterbro at the southern end of Store Hindsjön. Here you can swim at a fine sandy beach and enjoy varied forest walks.

The forest is characterized by the proximity to the lake with low-growing oak. The mineral-rich greenstone in the soil benefits both plant and animal life. In the western part of the reserve grows a primeval forest-like, varied and uneven-aged deciduous forest with groves of coarse aspen, oak and hazel. In wet areas there are alder, willow and dead trees. If you are lucky, you may spot the lesser spotted woodpecker, our smallest woodpecker, no bigger than a chaffinch. It feeds on wood insects that require a good supply of dead wood. The high stumps in the forest are particularly important both as nesting trees and for foraging for woodpeckers.

You can look for the unusual flower bearded lichen growing high up in the oak canopy. The flower bearded lichen thrives in places where there is light and moisture. It is a rare species in Sweden. The unusual candelabra fungus, which breaks down the wood, grows on lying, coarse, strongly rotting aspen trunks.

At the Sandvik bathing area there is a sparse pine forest. Here you can take a dip from the sun-warmed rocks or let the children play on the shallow sandy beach. There is also a barbecue area that you can use with firewood/charcoal.

There is a hiking trail, Bjällingsmålaleden, in the reserve that starts at Patron Trädgårdhs väg along Frösekevägen.

There are otters in Hindsjön and Alsterån. Since the environmental toxin PCB was banned in the 1970s, the otters have increased in number. They have now returned to the Alsterån water system. For the otter to thrive, protective vegetation is needed along the banks and suitable nesting sites such as stone cairns close to the water and large root vaults. The otter is shy and most active at night. It is difficult to spot, but is revealed by track marks and droppings. The otter is Småland's landscape animal. It feeds mainly on fish, but also on crayfish, amphibians and rodents.