Lilla Vickleby lund

Vegetation

What are now lush groves were once open meadows. The reserve mainly has oak trees, but also apple, maple, birch and willow. Today the oaks are surrounded by younger trees and shrubs, especially hazel. Typical grove plants alternate during spring and summer. The first of them all is the cornflower, whose intense blue flowers appear among the leaves of the previous year as early as April. Forest bells, musk, lily of the valley, larkspur, horsetail and stinkweed are other examples of flowers that grow in the grove.

Rare lichens and butterflies

Several of the plants found in Lilla Vickleby grove indicate that the forest has high natural values. For example, many unusual lichens grow on the trees, such as dull spotted lichen, jaguar spot and pink lichen. Among the butterflies, the hawthorn butterfly, the rust-colored leaf spinner and the liverwort butterfly can be mentioned. The latter has its only permanent occurrence in the country on central Öland.

Memory of meadow, pasture and railway

The two areas in the nature reserve have been part of Lilla Vickleby's fields and meadows. In the 18th century, they were meadows where sedge, sedge, oak, hazel and maple grew. The southern area was called Södra gången and the northern area Norra gången. During the late 18th and 19th centuries, much of the meadowland was cultivated and the two areas became pastures. The railway used to run through the northern pasture. The railway was closed in 1961 and only the embankment remains.

The two areas are located SW of Vickleby church. Parking is available along the road between Vickleby and Stora Frö.

In the nature reserve you are not allowed:

• Drive a motorized vehicle off designated roads or trails.
• Park a motor vehicle, caravan or trailer.
• Camp in tents.
• Ride horses, drive horses and carriages or similar outside designated roads or paths outside grazing land.
• Bring a dog or other animal that is not on a leash.
• Put up a board, sign, poster or similar device or make inscriptions.
• Build a fire.
• Digging or pulling up plants or plant parts by the roots. You can pick berries and mushrooms
• Damage or remove trees, stumps, bark, branches, bushes or reeds that are growing or dead.

After consultation with the County Administrative Board, you may:

• Conduct survey or research.
• Carry out commercial activities.