Ijungens gammelskog, Naturreservat

The nature reserve is located in a riparian forest area on the north side of Lake Ijungen. The area is mainly protected for the natural forest, where some trees are up to 30 meters high. There are no marked trails here, so you can walk in the forest on your own. Ijungen Nature Reserve is 23 hectares in size and is located about 15 kilometers northeast of Bollnäs, by Lake Ijungen. The forest consists mostly of spruce, pine and birch of 120 years of age and younger. There are also elements of even older trees, mainly pines.

The area is of a natural forest character with old trees, dead standing and fallen trees. There is a mixture of tree ages and species. Some older pines are up to 130-150 years old.

Valuable for many

As there are shepherd's huts nearby, the area was probably used for forest grazing in the past. The occasionally herb-rich flora in the forest with, for example, cornflower, midsummer flowers, torta and the orchid Virgin Mary's keys may be a sign of this.

Some of the red-listed species found in the area, such as the orchid knotweed and the mushrooms border tick and rose tick, show that there has been a long period of forest activity in the area.

Several species of woodpeckers are found in the nature reserve. The three-toed woodpecker, the common nuthatch and the gray woodpecker have been observed here. They need older trees and dead wood to thrive.