Århultsbäcken, Naturreservat

Århultsbäcken, like Djurholmamossen, is part of the Djurholmen hiking area Link to another website, opens in new window. up on Hallandsåsen. Together they offer a piece of wilderness in the Scanian countryside. On the large bog you can meet grouse and moose. From the bog, Århultsbäcken winds its way through a stream ravine that offers waterfalls, marsh lilies and mill remains. Several hiking trails take you to the ruins of the crofters and farmers who lived in the area several hundred years ago. Here you can both feel the wings of history and experience silence and seclusion.

Crack in the Hallandsåsen

Århultsbäcken flows in a rift valley that cuts into Hallandsåsen. The fissure in the ridge or horst was created by collisions in the earth's crust about 80 million years ago. Other more famous rift valleys from this time are those on Söderåsen, those in Skäralid (Söderåsen National Park) and Klöva Hallar. Århultsbäcken flows down the southern slope of Hallandsåsen into Västersjön.

Much work for little food

The marshland and the poor soil around Djurholmen made it hard to live here. This may explain why the first traces of older settlements are only 500 years old. In Skåne, it is not unusual to find villages and farmsteads that are over 1000 years old. On the edge of the reserve there are also foundation stones from the Djurholmen farm, which existed as early as 1715. Remains of the mill in which the farm people ground flour can still be seen in Århultsbäcken along Mossestigen (red trail). It was a small so-called slate mill. But there are also traces of crofts and cottages. Something that reminds us of the crofters who lived and made a living in the area in the 19th century. During this time there was a population boom that meant that even the less attractive land was farmed. Much of the land was grazed, but low-lying areas along the stream were used for haymaking. Imagine a much more open landscape at this time. If you follow the marked trails, there are signs that tell you more about the crofts and the people who lived here in the past.

Large waterfall for Skåne

Århultsbäcken runs like a lifeline through the reserve and largely follows its natural course. The stream is rich in boulders and stones and in the central parts there is a large waterfall (red line). The species richness along the stream is great. In the leafy parts grow downy moss, white-pink brook sedge and the large white flower missne. Missne is a white calla, unlike its relative yellow skunk cabbage. The latter is an invasive alien species that needs to be controlled. In the open areas along Århultsbäcken you will find various species of sedge and the small white-flowered marsh lily.

Land of the marsh lilies

On the southern slope of the reserve there is an unusual form of slope fen. In areas with exposed mineral soil, the unusual plant combwort grows. But perhaps the crowning glory is the marsh lilies. You can see them most easily on the small bog south of the river along Grönalidstigen.

Old-growth forest with golden curl moss and dwarf witch hazel

Most of the Århultsbäcken nature reserve consists of deciduous forest today. Along the stream in the south, it is the oldest and most varied - a natural forest. There are beech trees over a hundred years old, but also plenty of dead stumps several meters high, lying trunks and bouquet-shaped trees. The trunks are partly covered with mosses and lichens with names such as beech fringe lichen, beech spring lichen, glossy spot, orange-powdered scribble lichen, golden curl moss and rock lichen. On the ground, you'll find brambles, bilberry, ferns and dwarf witch hazel. The unusual moth, the giant sponge moth, seems to thrive in this unusually pristine and natural forest. After the stream's path through Djurholmamossen and Århultsbäckens nature reserve, it now flows down the slope of Hallandsåsen before being embraced by Västersjön.

Outdoor life and accessibility

Århultsbäckens nature reserve is part of the Skånska Landscape Foundation's Djurholmen hiking area. There are several hiking trails in the area. Gubbalyckestigen (YELLOW - 1.5 km, hilly) and Källstigen (BLUE - 1.5 km, flat) take you to traces of the crofters who lived here several hundred years ago. Mossestigen (RED - 3.8 km, hilly), takes you to the large bog Djurholmamossen with a viewing tower, but also passes the site of the old farm Djurholmen, the mill and waterfalls. From the red trail you can take a detour on Grönalidstigen (2.8 km) which goes along an old hollow way and past the bog with all the marsh lilies. Both red and yellow trails take you to the hilly natural forest environments of the creek valley. Here you can expect silence and privacy all year round and mushroom picking in the fall. The area has a parking lot, dry toilet, information sign and barbecue area. Remember to take your rubbish home.

In English

Welcome to Århultsbäcken Nature Reserve

From the bog, the stream Århultsbäcken finds its way through a stream gorge that offers both waterfalls, bog asphodels and mill remains. Here you can both feel the beat of history and experience stillness and seclusion. Århultsbäcken is part of the Djurholmen hiking area as well.

The stream is rich in blocks and stones and in the central parts there is a large waterfall. It also offers an impressive biodiversity. In the lush parts of the stream grow Handsome Woollywort, Large Bitter-cress and the large white flower Bog Arum.

Most of the reserve consists of a broad-leaved deciduous forest whose trunks are covered with mosses and lichens. On the ground you can see clubmosses, bilberry bushes, ferns and Alpine Enchanter's-nightshade. The unusual moth Scardia boletella seems to thrive in this untouched and natural forest.

Regulations

Within Århultsbäcken Nature Reserve it is forbidden to:

• dig, drill, paint, or in any other way damage the ground or natural objects,
• light fires/grills other than in designated places. The use of camping stoves is allowed within the nature reserve,
• cycle other than on a roads or designated cycle trails
• bring dogs or other pets unless on a physical leash,
• dig up plants,
• remove firewood or otherwise damage living or dead standingor lying trees and shrubbery,
• in a disturbing or loud manner use music or sound equipment,
• place out or put up boards, posters, signs or similar.

Furthermore, without written permission from the County Administrative Board, it is forbidden to:

• place out or put up paper strips, orienteering control points, orsimilar devices other than temporarily, no more than 10 days,on condition that contact details and date of placement areattached to the placed out objects,
• erect any kind of facility or place out for the reserve foreignobjects,
• catch insects, spiders, gastropods, or other invertebrate animalsother than by netting, hand picking, or other selective methodsthat does not destroy the animal's habitat, with subsequentreintroduction within the nature reserve.The requirement for reintroduction does not apply to individual voucher specimens of eachspecies on condition that the record is logged in the reporting system Artportalen, or similar nationaldatabase for endangered species, and that the collection is not contrary to the species protectionregulations,
• collect mosses, lichens or wood living fungi, with exception ofsingle evidence specimens, provided that the findings is registered in the reporting system Artportalen, or similar national database for endangered species, and that the collection is notcontrary to the species protection regulations.