Älvhytteängen, Naturreservat

Älvhytteängen nature reserve is an old hay meadow with rich, lime-affected flora. There are many rare flowers as well as a plethora of different grasses, sedges and sedges. Keep an eye out for butterflies, there are many rarities here. There is an easy path and a picnic table at the parking lot - perfect for an excursion in early summer.

Bergslagsbygd

The Älvhytteängen nature reserve is a species-rich meadow in Älvhyttan village with a long tradition of haymaking. The fact that the village is in the middle of Bergslagen is evident from its stately old mountain farms, adorned with cast iron chimneys that testify to the area's history in mining and iron handling. To transport iron ore, coal and finally finished cast iron, many draught animals were needed, which in turn needed a lot of winter feed. The meadows in Bergslagen were therefore particularly important and larger in proportion compared to the plains. Älvhytteängen is a wooded meadow, here in Bergslagen also called sloghage.

Lime and mowing favor specialists

A meadow is mown every year and the hay is transported away so that nitrogen-rich species do not take over and outcompete the typical meadow plants. Älvhyttan is located in a stretch of ancient limestone, which continues northeast to Stråssa. In addition to regular mowing, the presence of limestone is also of great importance for the area's species richness. The lime affects the nutrients available to the plants and thus creates tough conditions that only certain specially adapted, lime-tolerant species can cope with. Competition from fast-growing species is much reduced, giving the sensitive specialists a chance to grow. Many of these species are threatened or rare precisely because their habitats have been greatly reduced in the landscape. This is why calcareous meadows are important for biodiversity and need to be managed with traditional mowing to be preserved. In the past, the whole meadow was mown with a scythe, but today a mowing beam is also used, except in sensitive areas, which are still mown with a scythe. After mowing, which takes place in August, the meadow is grazed.

Flower paradise

In late spring and early summer, the meadow's flowers are at their peak. The spring is ushered in by blue and white cowslips before cowslips and intoxicating lilies of the valley appear. The lime-demanding cowslip also has one of its largest growing areas in the county here. Many different species bloom during the summer. There are many different orchids here, for example orchids such as the stately guckuskon, the fragrant bridal spurge. Other examples include maidenhair fern, night violet, marsh marigold and soapwort. Did you know that orchids have a secret weapon to access nutrients in calcareous soils? They cooperate with fungi through a network of fungal mycelium and plant roots called mycorrhiza. There is also plenty of pigweed, maidenhair and buttercups. The field gentian has returned and seems to be increasing in number every year. The Älvhytte meadow is home to several species with a southern and northern distribution, including rarities such as fleabane and bird's-foot trefoil. The meadow is also home to shrubs such as bluebell and thistle. Parts of Älvhytteängen are also very wet.

Rare butterflies

Many butterflies also thrive in the flower-rich meadow. If you're lucky, you may see the very rare pigmy moth. But there are other rarities here, such as the wet-mesh butterfly, the maidenhair butterfly, the hoverfly and the soot-mesh butterfly. The area is also home to the rare bush mouse.

A village with many nature reserves

In the village of Älvhyttan you will find several nature reserves. In the middle of the village is Venakärret - a so-called extreme rice bog. A little further east, species-rich pastures open up in Vena hage and on the south-western shore of Lake Älvlången you will find Näsmarkerna - a species-rich forest pasture. A little further north you will find another small rich marsh, namely Bromängen.

Accessibility

In the small nature reserve there is a marked path that is relatively easy to get around on foot. At the parking lot there is a picnic table with a nice view of the meadow. In late summer there are sometimes cows grazing in the pastures.

Stick to the path!

Both the guckuskon and many other meadow plants are sensitive to trampling, so follow the paths on your walk through the reserve.

Sign-interpreted info