Sandby backar, Naturreservat

The Sandby hills nature reserve contains a hilly dune landscape that is partially covered by shifting drifting sand. The undulating dunes create different microclimates that lay the foundation for a varied and species-rich plant and animal life. Closest to the sea is a wide strip of beach that is frequently used by bathers.

Dune landscapes are growing back

Once upon a time, the sandy soils along Skåne's south-east coast were covered with large oak forests. When humans began to cut down the forest, an open coastal landscape emerged where the sand moved with the wind. To prevent the sand from flying onto farmland, local people planted trees on the sand heaths. Today, only small areas of the characteristic open dune landscape remain.

Valuable coastal heath

A coastal heath like the Sandby hills nature reserve has great biological values. The hilly dunes contain a mosaic of environments. Warm sand on wandering dunes next to areas with bristle thistle and fragrant thyme. Heaths with heather and crowberry alongside wet dune wetlands.

Habitat type requiring management

The natural habitats along the sea need continuous management in order not to lose their biological value. Many plants and insects associated with sand dune habitats are threatened when the dunes become overgrown. The area is home to rare and endangered insects such as the white-ribbed shorefly and the dwarf skimmer spider.

In English

Welcome to Sandby backar Nature Reserve

Once upon a time, the sandy ground along the south-eastern coast of Skåne was covered in large oak forests. When humans started to cut down the forest, Sandhammaren was transformed into an open coastal landscape with the sand shifting with the wind. To prevent the sand from entering the agricultural areas, local people have planted trees on the sand heaths. Therefore only small areas of the characteristic open dune landscape remain today.

A coastal heath like the Sandby backar Nature Reserve contains great biological values. In the undulating sand dunes you find a mosaic of environments. Warm sand on drifting sand dunes next to areas of grey hair grass and scented breckland thyme. Heaths with heather and crowberry alongside humid dune slacks.

Coastal habitat types require constant management in order to maintain their biological values. Many plants and insects linked to the sand dune environments are threatened when the dunes become overgrown. In the reserve live rare and threatened insects such as the moth Conisania leineri and the ground spider Micaria lenzi.

Regulations

Within Sandby backar nature reserve it is forbidden to:

• put up placards, posters, or similar, or make inscriptions,
• carry out any form of construction work or erect objects alien to the reserve,
• ride horses or drive vehicles,
• camp,
• light fires.