Ismantorp is part of Mittlandsskogen, one of the country's largest contiguous deciduous forest areas. The reserve contains a mosaic of mixed deciduous forest, rich marshes and open land. The varied nature is home to a great diversity of plants and animals.
Mittlandsskog
You are in Mittlandet - an area whose species richness and cultural values have few equivalents in Europe. The reserve's nature is dominated by broadleaf forest with mainly oak, ash and elm. Under the tree crowns, a dense, sometimes impenetrable shrub layer spreads out with hazel, hawthorn, yew and others. Valuable for many The reserve is a haven for a large number of unusual species. For example, there are fastidious lichens that only grow on old broadleaf trees in forests with high and even humidity. Among the ground fungi, there are rarities such as the giant spider moss, the white mushroom and the devil's mushroom, species that are more light-demanding than the lichens. The uncommon large violet also grows in the fringe habitats. It is only found in a few places in the country, all on Öland.
Rich in flowers
The deciduous forest has a rich grove flora with, among other things, lungwort, hollow-nosewort and orchids such as St. Peter's keys and soapwort. Other orchids such as St. John's wort and salep's root thrive in the open fields, where they grow together with bride's bread, flockarun and bluebell. The rich marshes are home to another set of herbs, with swordwort, chickweed and red clover. And even more orchid species, such as bride's spurge!
Traces from the past
In and outside the reserve there are extensive ancient remains from the Iron Age. These cultural environments are unique to Öland and unparalleled even in an international perspective. Examples of remains in the reserve are foundations of houses, stone rows, cairns and graves.