Ekedala utvidgning, Naturreservat

In Ekedala, an ancient cultural landscape is hidden on the slope down to Segeholmsån. You can experience it by following a 1 kilometer long circular trail. Or go up into the upper pastures and enjoy the view. Down in the valley, the Segesholmsån river winds its way. And on the slope on the other side of the river, the natural forest-like deciduous forest spreads out. The boulders and trees are heavily covered in moss thanks to the high humidity.

Old-fashioned cultural landscape

Down in the river valley there are remains of an older, very attractive, cultural landscape with stone farmsteads, cairns and fencing reminiscent of the toil of previous generations. Most of this area has been pasture land, but smaller parts have also been arable land at one time. The area has partly grown back, but there are, among other things, large free-standing beech and willow trees. Narrow-leaved grasses, heather and St. John's wort grow on the ground. In the spring, carpets of cowslips, spring onions and swallow-wort spread out down in the valley.

Species-rich water

Segesholmsån has clean and clear water and is unaffected by drainage within the reserve's boundaries. The amount of boulders and dead wood is therefore very high in the flowing river. The bottom fauna is particularly rich in species and includes several different species of mayflies, dragonflies, caddisflies and stream water beetles. The common sturgeon, which feeds on aquatic bugs, can be seen in the river.

Old deciduous forest

On the other side of the river, on the slopes, the deciduous forest spreads out. Most of the trees are between 150 and 175 years old. In some places, the beech forest is unplanted and resembles a natural forest. There are unusually tall trees here, as well as old, rough and dead trees and a large number of ticks. The ground is covered with musk marigold, toothwort, yellow thistle and wood anemone. The high humidity and long forest continuity mean that the boulders and trees are heavily covered in mosses, with species such as Scanian sphagnum moss, brittle lance moss, basement tufa moss and creeping sphagnum moss.

Outdoor life

In Ekedala there is a parking lot and a short red-marked loop of 1 km. It goes down through the pastures to the meandering river in the valley. By wandering freely up into the upper pastures, a nice view of the cultural landscape awaits. Remember to take your rubbish home with you.

In English

Welcome to Ekedala Nature Reserve!

The deep ravine with a meandering stream at the bottom hidesboth valuable broad-leaved deciduous forests and an ancient agricultural landscape.

Reminder of the small-scale farming in the past

The open areas are a reminder of the small-scale farming in the past. Stone walls, cattle paths and clearance cairns divide the land into small parcels. Most of the land was used as meadows and pastures, interspersed with small plots for cultivation.

Biologically diverse beech forest

A biologically diverse beech forest with elements of ash and rowan grows on the steep slopes in the valley. Mosses such as twist-tip feather-moss, wavy beard-moss, fern-leaved hook-moss, and fountain feather-moss thrive in the high humidity. You can also find exciting fungi such as the webcaps Cortinarius elegantissimus and Cortinarius foetens.

Clean and clear water in the river Segeholmsån

At the bottom of the valley runs the river Segeholmsån. Its clean and clear water provides a habitat for many bottom-living animals. White-throated dipper can be seen along the river in winter, diving in the clear water for insects and larvae.

Regulations

Within Ekedala Nature Reserve it is forbidden to:

1. dig, bore, paint or in any other way damage the ground, stones, boulders or natural objects
2. park caravans, campers, or similar between12 p.m. and 6 a.m.,
3. bring dogs or other pets unless on a physical leash
4. dig up plants,
5. remove dead wood, break off branches, fell, or in any other way damage living or dead trees or shrubs,
6. organize competitions or similar events
7. place out or put up notice boards, placards, signs, posters or similar.

Furthermore, without written permission from the County Administrative Board, it is forbidden to:

8. hide geocaches or place out other, similar items,

9. on land or in water catch insects, spiders, gastropods, or other invertebrate animals, other than by netting, hand picking, or other selective method that does not destroy the animal's habitat, with subsequent reintroduction within the nature reserve. The requirement for reintroduction does not apply to individual voucher specimens of species that are difficult to determine, on condition that the record is logged in the reporting system Artportalen or corresponding database for endangered species, and that the collection is not contrary to the species protection regulations,

10. collect mosses, lichens, or wood-living fungi, with the exception of individual voucher specimens of species that are difficult to determine, on condition that the record is logged in the reporting system Artportalen or corresponding national database for endangered species, and that the collection is not contrary to species protection.

Funded by the European Union