Talldungen, Naturreservat

This reserve protects an old, valuable pine forest. Some of the pines growing here sprouted over 200 years ago. The forest grows on a gravel ridge, which was formed during the last ice age.

Hardy tree

The pine is perhaps Sweden's toughest tree - it can grow almost anywhere. On the poorest of soils and windiest of islands. It grows best when it is warm and dry. Then the pine becomes a stately "pine", tall and straight-stemmed - like here in Talldungen.

Old pines

The reserve's pines are on average around 200 years old, the oldest almost 250 years. You don't see pines this old very often these days, as pines are normally felled when they are around 100 years old. It is also very unusual for old forests to remain right next to a community, as at Misterhult.

Teeming with life

Many of the pine's inhabitants are very small and can be difficult to spot. These include ants, beetles and caterpillars that live under the bark or inside the trunks. If you look closely at the bark and roots of trees, you can see holes and tunnels gnawed by the bugs. The bugs become food for the forest birds. Larger holes in pine trees are the tracks of great spotted woodpeckers looking for ants and other bugs.

Works from the Ice Age

The reserve is part of the Misterhult Ridge, which was formed during the last ice age. As the ice melted, rocks, gravel and sand were transported by large ice rivers that flowed under the ice. At the edge of the ice, the speed of the water decreased and the material carried by the ice rivers sank to the bottom, forming elongated ridges.

Used for a long time

It is no coincidence that the road through Misterhult's community runs along the ridge. Ridges are dry and good to walk on and have always been used as roads. They have also served as burial grounds. In the reserve, for example, there is a small burial ground with three stone circles and a couple of upright stones.