Kvinnsgröta alvar

Cultural landscape

The upper stream, which meanders across the alvar, creates the conditions for typical wet meadows with large stands of toadflax. In the far east there are a couple of small enclosures, delimited by stone walls. These have long been grazed by dairy cows and have at some point been fertilized. In the far west of the area are the remains of an Iron Age house foundation, with clear remains of walls and ramparts. Approximately in the middle of the area there are a number of stone walls and three ancient graves. There are also some guard huts. The shepherds who guarded the village's sheep were often inhysehjon and they built the huts for protection from the weather.

Species-rich dry meadows

To the west, large rocky areas spread out with typical moss cushions and various types of fat bud. There is also a rich insect life here. In the eastern parts of the area, a number of ridges run in a north-south direction. Up on the species-rich dry meadows grow grazing plants such as cat's foot, spring forget-me-not, ground clover and sand dandelion. The goat's beard is another plant typical of the calcareous island soils. The alder type of goat's beard differs from the others in that it is low-growing and the flower color varies from light yellow to orange and purple. Flowering occurs in June and July.

Part of the World Heritage Site

The agricultural landscape of southern Öland is included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The World Heritage Site covers the entire landscape with villages, fields, lakes and Stora Alvaret. Stora Alvaret has been characterized by grazing for several thousand years and the purpose of the nature reserves here is to maintain the unique grazing-dependent cultural landscape, vegetation types that are representative of alvar land and to benefit both the typical and the rare plant and animal species that live in these environments. The aim is also to preserve and make visible Stora Alvaret's cultural and historical remains and to facilitate the public's opportunities to experience its natural and cultural values.

The reserve is located just northwest of the village of Kvinnsgröta on southeastern Öland. Follow road 136 south towards Ottenby. Turn off at Södra Möckleby and cross Stora Alvaret in the direction of Torngård. Continue south along the eastern highway (road 137). Turn towards the village of Kvinnsgröta about 2 km south of Torngård. Once in Kvinnsgröta, follow the village street north. In the far north there is a parking lot on the north side of the last farm in the village. The reserve is bordered to the north by the Mellstaby alvar nature reserve. The reserve is most easily reached on foot from Kvinnsgröta or Mellstaby alvar.

In the nature reserve you are not allowed:

• Drive a motorized vehicle off designated roads or trails.
• Park a vehicle, caravan or trailer in a place other than designated parking spaces.
• Camping more than one night in the same place.
• Bring a dog or other animal that is not on a leash.
• Hunting, killing, capturing or harming wild mammals, amphibians, reptiles or birds.
• Remove or damage eggs or nests.
• Deliberately disturbing wildlife.
• Collect loose rocks or remove pieces of bedrock.
• Damage or remove trees, shrubs, mosses and lichens that are growing or dead.
• Use the area for orienteering competitions or training.
• Damaging fencing (for example, fences or barriers).
• Using the area for military exercises.