Hemlingby, Naturvårdsområde

Hemlingby is Gävle's most important outdoor recreation area, with trails, paths and other facilities in a hiking-friendly nature. The forest dominates, but there are also marshes, pastures and remains of an old agricultural landscape. The area is also an important junction for the Gästrikeleden trail.

Forest and mires

The dominant habitat type is coniferous forest with elements of deciduous trees. In the northern part of the area, the terrain is slightly hilly, while in the south it is very flat with extensive marshlands. The largest is the approximately 100-hectare Bläckmuren. The flora of the bog is species-poor, but the bird life is relatively rich with several breeding wader species.

Old agricultural landscape

In several places in the area there are also remains of an old agricultural landscape, for example at Gammelbyn in Järvsta and at Nötterhagen along the nature trail.

In connection with the agricultural landscapes, there are some dry meadow areas where you can find plants such as briar, flentimothy, ground clover, angular buttercup and small burdock. Other plants of interest in the area include wood sorrel, snake's tongue and yarrow.

Several outdoor recreation facilities

Hemlingby has many exercise trails, some with electric lights. In winter, several of them are used for cross-country skiing and the slalom slope also opens.

There are also plenty of picnic areas with shelters and fireplaces, as well as nature trails and a mountain bike track. At the parking lot up on the mountain is Hemlingbystugan with restaurant, swimming, sauna and relaxation.