Bengtesgårds äng, Naturreservat

Bengtesgårds äng is a hay meadow with old oaks, ash trees and a large number of hazel bushes. The reserve is one of the few preserved hay meadows in Halland. A path runs through the reserve, it has no trail markings but is easy to follow. On your walk, you can keep an eye out for birds, including barn owls and cuckoos.

The reserve evokes memories of a historical landscape, where meadow farming played an important role in the farmer's livelihood. The area has been cultivated with scythes for a very long time. In the mid-19th century, haymaking ceased and was replaced by grazing. When grazing ceased after about 100 years, the meadow grew back, but when the nature reserve was formed, traditional management was resumed in the eastern part of the reserve. Thinning and clearing have been carried out to benefit the meadow's light-dependent flora, with species such as green nightshade, meadowsweet and meadowsweet.

Birds and ancient monuments

Trees and shrubs with fruits, nuts and berries provide food and shelter for insects and birds. Bengtesgård's meadow is very rich in birds, with over 20 nesting species, including barn owls, cuckoos and tree creepers. Fornåkrar are stone-cleared, smooth surfaces that were used for cultivation, many already during the Bronze Age.

The history of Löväng

Lövängen as a phenomenon emerged during the Late Iron Age (400s and 500s) when the settlement was organized into villages. Lövängen was of great importance for the agricultural economy of the past.

By harvesting leaves (cutting down the tops of trees), winter fodder was obtained for the animals and wood for various tools. Ash wood was used for axe handles and rake sticks. Linden wood was used to make scythe handles and lime bark was used to make ropes. The hay harvest after the annual mowing was also used as animal feed. In spring, the meadow was mown. Last year's leaves and twigs were collected and burned so as not to inhibit the growth of grasses and herbs.