Sporrakulla, Naturreservat

Sporrakulla and Dalshult are two farms that have long been isolated in the large Kulla forest outside Sibbhult. Pine used to be a common tree species in this vast outfield. Today's nature reserve is the open farmed land closest to the farms. Today these small patches of land are grazed. Stone fences and piles of cleared stones give a good picture of the old homesteads. Nowadays, only the Sporrakulla farm from the early 1700s remains, and the Rodatorpet soldier's hut. There are several hiking trails that take you around this ancient landscape. A cultural environment with fencerows, pollarded trees, croft ruins, coal bunkers and tar pits. Sporrakulla farm is a good starting point for hiking and an attraction in itself.

Forest with small islands of open land

Dalshult and Sporrakulla were over 100 years ago two of four farms in the large grazed Kulla Forest in northeastern Skåne. The farms, which were surrounded by small fields and stone fences, lay like small islands in this wooded outfield. Today's nature reserve includes the two farms and their meadows. The land in the nearby reserve Grävlingabackarna is part of the wooded outfield.

Sporrakulla's old-fashioned farm environment

The Sporrakulla farm was built in the first half of the 18th century. The timbered farm and the surrounding land have retained their original character and give a clear picture of 18th and 19th century farm life. A deciduous meadow landscape with pollarded trees and stone fences spreads out around the farm. There is also a lane with double stone walls leading the cattle from the farm to the grazed forest. Sporrakulla farm is a listed building. But the area was already populated in the Bronze Age. Traces in the form of burial mounds can be found in the now grazed land southwest of Sporrakulla farm.

Hammered trees and flower-rich hay meadows

The deciduous meadows preserved at Sporrakulla are typical of this part of Skåne. In the old farming community, hay meadows were very important because they provided food for the animals during the winter months. The meadows were allowed to flower before the hay was harvested, allowing insects that feed on nectar and pollen to flourish in the meadows.

The leaves of the trees were also used for winter fodder; the trees were 'pollarded'. The result was the kind of gnarled, hollow old deciduous trees you can see in the Sporrakulla meadows. The dead wood of the pollarded trees supports everything from wood-boring fungi and lichens to insects and bats.

Pine and beech forest

If you follow the Broddakulla trail to the southern parts of the reserve, you will come to a beautiful mixed forest of pine and beech. Two tree species that were common in Kullaskogen further back in time. Great spotted woodpeckers and woodpeckers thrive in the forest thanks to the good supply of dead wood. There are plenty of tasty insect larvae in the wood.

Tar pits and coal beds in the outfield

The stony and poor forest land has long been used both for grazing and for the extraction of firewood and timber. But the forest has also provided income in the form of charcoal and tar. Tar pits and coal beds are paved channels that can still be seen in today's forests. But there are also plenty of ruins of abandoned crofts. The only croft left is Rodatorpet north of the reserve. Of the four farms, only Sporrakulla remains. The other three farms, Dalshult, Broddakulla and Trollakulla, are now ruins.

Outdoor life

In Kullaskogen are the reserves Sporrakulla, Dalshult and Grävlingabackarna Link to another website.. Sporrakulla farm is a good starting point. There is parking, toilet, picnic area with fireplace (bring charcoal) and several hiking trails start/pass here. Glimåkra Hembygdsförening Link to another website, opens in new window. also offers guided tours of the farm (listed building) in summer. Two circular trails start here that take you around the grounds of Sporrakulla. Sporrakulla trail, 1.5 km (blue), passes the tar valley where pine stumps were slowly burned to tar in the past, but also the hill Boklinten just outside the reserve. Broddakulla trail, 2 km (red), goes through the pastures and passes the resting place at Broddakulla farm ruin just outside the reserve in the southwest. Rodatorpsslingan, 7 km (green), passes just past Sporrakulla farm and continues north through the ancient land up to the old well-preserved soldier's cottage Rodatorpet Link to another website, opens in new window.. The Skåneleden trail runs through the area and a connecting trail (5 km) goes down to Sibbhult where the nearest bus stop is. A map of Kullaskogen's trails and cultural remains can be found in Skogssällskapets map folder Sporrakulla and Rodatorpet Link to another website, opens in new window.. If you want to visit more places with similar cultural landscapes, Örnanäs cultural reserve Link to another website. is located about 10 km northeast of Sporrakulla.

Remember to bring your trash home.

In English

Welcome to Sporrakulla and Dalshult Nature Reserve

Sporrakulla, Dalshult and Grävlingabackarna Nature Reserves jointly provide an image of how the land has been used for over hundreds of years and up until the beginning of the 1900s. Sporrakulla and Dalshult show how the most fertile land nearest the farm was used as hay meadows and for cultivation while the less fertile, stony land in Grävlingabackarna was used as pastures, where the animals grazed in the woodlands. The cows were moved along the drove roads from the fertile areas close to the farm to the pastures. The stone walls along the drove roads stopped the animals from getting out into the meadows and fields to graze. In the traditional rural landscape, man and nature have together, shaped an environment which is very rich in species.

Regulations

Within Sporrakulla and Dalshult Nature Reserves it is forbidden to:

• damage permanent natural objects or surface formations,
• camp, park a caravan, camper van or equivalent,
• pick, dig up or in any other way damage plants (including mosses), lichens or wood living fungi,
• intentionally break or collect and remove dead wood,
• collect animals, e.g. beetles or molluscs, or in general intentionally disturb or affect the wildlife,
• bring a dog not on a lead or any other pet which is not on a lead,
• light a fire other than at the specified locations,
• put up signs, posters, notices, or any other equivalent items other than at specified locations - information and nature reserve signs as well as boundary markers are excluded.

Within Dalshult Nature Reserve it is also forbidden to:

• enter private gardens (not applicable to the owners, tenants or personnel),
• set up orienteering checkpoints or marked trails.

Within Sporrakulla Nature Reserve it is also forbidden to:

• burn dead wood.