Limberget, Naturreservat

The Limberget nature reserve is one of the very few coniferous forest areas in Bergslagen that is almost completely unaffected by modern forestry. Limberget is an old-growth forest area between the Erikaberget and Håkansbodaberget nature reserves and borders the Björkebergsbacken nature reserve.

Varied forest

The area consists of a roughly north-south running mountain ridge with steep parts to the west, which in the east borders the Björkebergsbacken nature reserve. In its middle there is an elongated depression with spruce swamp forest and marshes, while drier pine forest dominates in the north and west. The forest on Limberget contains various types of coniferous forest, with greater or lesser elements of deciduous trees. The wettest areas contain swampy spruce forest, while the driest areas contain rocky pine forest. In between are other forest types, such as fresh to moist spruce forest. Among the deciduous trees, aspen predominates over birch.

Dead wood lives

The most distinctive feature of Limberget's untouched forest is the abundance of dead and dying trees. The lying dead trees (flames) and standing dry trees are very important for many of the forest's rare and endangered plant and animal species. The area's valuable habitats have been recognized for their unusual lichens and wood fungi, such as lung lichen, cat's foot lichen and old spruce lichen, as well as woolly tick and flesh tick.

The birds thrive

Birds such as woodpeckers and owls thrive in the ancient forest. The barn owl and the pearl owl benefit from the hollow trees that appear after the woodpecker, great spotted woodpecker and three-toed woodpecker peck out their nest holes every year. Capercaillie can also be encountered. Among the more typical mammals is the pine marten, which lives in hollow aspens. Sometimes lynx also roam over Limberget.

Hard-to-reach gem

Limberget is a long, narrow reserve. Its western side is bounded by a sharp, long "cliff". From the ridge, the reserve then slopes eastwards. In the middle of the reserve is a pine tree that dates back 200 years. It has grown on top of an old coal bed, which tells us a lot about when the forest was last used. Limberget is a peaceful place and one of the county's real old-growth forest gems. The nature reserve is not adapted for visitors. There are no roads, signs or parking. However, there are plenty of old paths that have been used by forest walkers and hunters for many years.

Accessibility

Limberget belongs to level 1 in the County Administrative Board's leveling of the county's nature reserves, which means that the reserve has a wilderness character and lacks outdoor recreation facilities except for a path between the road and the southwestern part of the Limberget reserve.

Read more about the leveling and management of protected nature