Maglö ekar, Naturreservat

The Maglö Oak Nature Reserve is a small, hilly pasture with majestic old oaks. The oak grove is located at the Maglö manor, which dates back to the 17th century. A dirt road leads you through parts of the garden, which is located near Sösdala.

Mighty old oaks

Large old oaks give perspective on life and nature. You can usually only find them in cultural landscapes because they have to stand very freely to grow really big. Some of the oaks in the reserve are more than 500 years old.

Biodiversity in old trees

Under favorable conditions, an oak tree can live to be a thousand years old. There are thousands of animal, plant and fungal species that only live in old oaks. It is not only during the tree's lifetime that it hosts these species. Even after the tree's death and during the decomposition process, many organisms live off the tree. It takes about the same amount of time for this process to be completed as it took for the oak to grow.

The inhabitants of the hollow oaks

In old oaks, cavities often form after cracks or broken branches. These are important nesting sites for many animals such as bats and wood pigeons. When a tree gets old, the heartwood is broken down by insects and fungi, which means that the tree can become hollow. The heartwood then breaks down into mulch. The mulch itself consists of decomposition residues from the wood, droppings from insects and other animals living in the old tree, remains of birds' nests, dead baby birds and so on. The mulch is home to many species that are completely dependent on this environment.

Outdoor recreation

Parking is available. A simple dirt road takes you a bit into the reserve. The pasture is easy to walk in. Avoid dogs among grazing animals. Remember to take your rubbish home.

In English

Welcome to Maglö ekar Nature Reserve

Maglö Ekar (Maglö oaks) Nature Reserve is situated within a very ancient rural landscape. The Maglö Estate, which is just south of the reserve, dates from at least the 1600s. Many of the oaks in the reserve are at least as old.

Rural landscape with old oaks

Large, ancient oaks give life and the countryside perspective. They are most commonly found in the farming landscape because they need to stand in the open in order to grow so large. Some of the oaks in the reserve are more than 500 years old. The rare beefsteak fungus (Fistulina hepatica) can be found on some of the oaks.

Old oaks and biodiversity

An oak, in the right conditions, can grow to be up towards a thousand years old. There are thousands of species of animals, plants and fungi that are only found on old oaks. It is not only while the tree is alive that it is home for these species. Many organisms live on the tree, even after the tree has died and whilst it breaks down. It takes almost as long for the tree to completely break down as it does for the oak to grow up.

Home to bats and birds

There are often hollows formed from cracks or broken branches in old oaks. These are very important homes for many animals such as bats or stock doves.

Devil's bit scabious (Succisa pratensis) grows in the wet meadows and sloe (Prunus spinosa) creates impenetrable thorny thickets. The yellow-hammer (Emberiza citrinella) is common in wood pastures such as Maglö Ekar. The wryneck (Jynx torquilla) is a member of the woodpecker family but collects its food from the ground.

Regulations

Within Maglö Ekar Nature Reserve it is forbidden to:

• damage natural formations or surfaces, e.g. carve into a tree,
• intentionally break, or collect and take away dead wood, break branches, fell or in any other way damage living, standing dead or lying trees or bushes,
• dig up or in any other way damage plants (including mosses), lichens or wood-living fungi,
• bring dogs or other pets not on a lead.
• intentionally disturb or impinge on wildlife,
• put up posters, signs, plaques, notices or equivalent items,

Without permission from the County Administrative Board it is also forbidden to:

• collect invertebrates e.g. beetles or molluscs,
• put up foreign objects (e.g. geocaches or equivalent).