Dagstorps mosse, Naturreservat

In the middle of the arable landscape in Kävlinge municipality. The bog is surrounded by cultivated land and is a haven for several rare and endangered plant species. In spring, Dagstorp bog turns yellow and pink with flowering orchids, cornflowers and cabbage oaks. Grazing animals keep the land open and free of bushes, which benefits the rich flora.

Rich marsh - poor in nutrients, rich in life

In spring, Dagstorp bog turns yellow and pink with flowering orchids, cornflowers and cabbage oaks. The marshes are our most species-rich wetlands and are also one of our most endangered habitats. Despite their name, these marshes are not rich in nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, but they are rich in lime. The high calcium content, combined with the fact that they have often been used as hay meadows or pastures, means that many special species of vascular plants, mosses and shells thrive here. Several of our unusual orchids require calcareous soil, and the millimetre-sized limpet uses lime to build its shell.

Past and future

Dagstorp bog was close to meeting the same fate as many other rich bogs, with drainage and overgrowth. When the railroad was built through the area just over 100 years ago, parts of the bog dried up and the eastern part was cultivated. In 2012, as part of the Life to ad(d)mire project, when the railroad was rerouted, part of the old embankment was dug away and the marsh was able to regain some of its original water flows.

The meadows were mown until the 1920s. Today, grazing animals have taken over the job of keeping the land open and free of bushes, which benefits the rich flora. Dagstorp bog is back on track again.

In English

Welcome to Dagstorps mosse Nature Reserve

It's located close to Kävlinge in southwest of Skåne county.

Rich fens - nutrition-poor but species-rich

Dagtorps mosse (Dagstorp's bog), a small wetland area surrounded by farmland, shimmers in yellow and pink in the spring from flowering orchids, bird's eye primroses and marsh marigolds. Rich fens are our most species rich type of wetland and also one of our most threatened habitats. Despite the name, these fens are not rich in nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, but they are rich in chalk. The high concentration of chalk, in combination with the fact that they are often managed as hay meadows or pastures, means that many special species of plants, mosses and snails thrive. Several of our unusual orchids require chalky soils and the tiny one millimetre long geyer's whorl snail needs chalk to make its shell.

Past and future

Dagstorp's bog was close to meeting the same fate as many other rich fens; drainage and overgrowing. When the railway line was built through the area just over a hundred years ago, parts of the fen dried out and the eastern part was cultivated. When the railway was re-routed, part of the old railway embankment was removed and the fen regained some of its original water flow, as part of the LIFE project Life to Ad(d)mire in 2012.

The meadows were cut up until the 1920s. Today, grazing animals have taken over the work of keeping the site open and free of bushes, which benefits the rich flora. Dagstorps mosse is back on track again.

Regulations

Within Dagstorps mosse Nature Reserve it is forbidden to:

• dig, bore or damage the ground, vegetation, bushes or trees in any other way,
• pick or dig up plants,
• light a fire,
• camp or park up a caravan, camper van or equivalent,
• cycle or drive a motor vehicle,
• put up posters, signs, plaques, notices, inscriptions, tape or any equivalent items.

Without permission from the County Administrative Board it is also forbidden to:

• trap and take away or collect insects or other animals with traps which result in death, or in any other way injure wildlife or their habitats,
• put out geocaching sites.