Klashagen - Livstens-leden

For generations, Frösunda residents have wondered why Klashagen is called Klashagen. No one has been able to recall that any Klas has lived nearby. But the explanation came that day when the little boys from Näs went canoeing on the rocks! A Niklas is mentioned here, or the more common form: Klas. Since Livsten built his bridges in this area, it is not unreasonable to imagine that the beautiful meadow was named after the only one of his sons who bore a Christian name. Niklas, which is now Klas, is an abbreviation of the saint of seafarers - St. Nicholas.

There is evidence to suggest that Helgö farm was located right here where the ground is highest.

The meadow is home to wood anemones, maidenhair fern, cowslips, cat's foot, tansy, sundew and cuckoo pea. Because the land has been grazed, smaller herbs have had the opportunity to assert themselves and grow. Today, no animals walk here anymore. To keep the land open, it is now being cleared by the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation and Frösunda Hembygdsförening.

There is plenty of willow growing along the ditches and pastures. It is often considered a junk plant and is removed. But there is every reason to look after it, its protein- and energy-rich pollen and nectar are the appetizer for newly awakened or newly hatched bumblebees and bees for upcoming dinners among all the summer flowers. Without willow and other species, they would find it difficult to survive the first weeks of spring. The queen bee feeds her larvae, those that eventually become the worker bees that pollinate apple trees, blueberry bushes and all other plants that require insect pollination. More than 70% of agricultural crops are pollinated by insects. More than 180 species of butterflies develop their caterpillars in willow and willow trees, and many fully formed butterflies seek nectar in willow flowers.

A tall juniper grows in the middle of the garden, next to the large stone that stands almost like an 'altar' next to the landscape's 'altarpiece'. The juniper is probably very old, judging by its trunk and growth habit. The oldest specimen of a juniper in our country has been found in Sarek and is estimated to be 840 years old! "Our" one is probably not that far behind!