Hallabäckens dalgång, Naturreservat

Hallabäckens valley is located on the south side of Söderåsen. Here you are greeted by rippling water, species-rich deciduous forest and damp pastures. The area is very steep in parts with height differences of 70-90 meters. The valley bears traces of old-time diabase mining and the sandstone cliff Stora Älehallen or Elhall sits at the top. At the bottom of the valley, Hallabäcken flows on its way to Skälderviken. You can see trout spawning in the clear water of the stream and a variety of butterflies fly in the flower-rich slopes. There is parking and small unmarked paths lead into the valley.

Species-rich broadleaf forest

Large parts of the nature reserve are covered by forest. Beech and hornbeam grow on the slopes, and in the valley the stream is shaded by ash, oak and alder. There is a lot of dead wood here, which benefits both fungi and insects. The uncommon fungus violet-headed fungus lives here, as does the lichen pincushion lichen. The valley is also home to many rare mosses associated with damp environments. No less than 70 different bird species nest in the valley. If you're lucky, you might see the white-tailed deer looking for food along the stream.

Steep valley sides

The mountainside in the northern part of the reserve is among the steepest parts of Söderåsen. During the mid-20th century, diabase was mined in the area. Today, three open mountain slopes and occasional piles of material remain. In the central parts of the reserve, the mighty sandstone cliff Stora Älehallen, or Elhall, rises high up the valley side. This sandstone is one of the oldest sedimentary rocks in Skåne.

Butterflies and wood-boring beetles

The basic rock type diabase in combination with the open, sun-warmed slopes favors a diversity of flowers and shrubs, which makes the area very important for butterflies and bees. The red-listed species of the elm bark butterfly and the violet-edged goldenwing are some of the butterfly species that have been found in the reserve. Wood-dwelling insects are also dependent on nectar and pollen during parts of their life cycle and benefit from the rich plant life.

Unusually rich in flowers

In total, no less than 600 different vascular plants have been found in the valley. Some of these include the unusual forest veronica and the orchids green-white night-flowering violet and true persimmon. At the far southeast is Orrödskärret. It is a so-called rich marsh, which means that it is rich in lime, but poor in nutrients. The calcareous groundwater that seeps out, together with haymaking and grazing animals, has led to today's floral splendor. Among other things, mayweed, marsh marigold and water primrose grow here.

In the valley bottom there are also traces of older farming in the form of stone walls, croft ruins and hollow ways that have been worn by the crofters' wagons, feet and cattle's footsteps.

Outdoor life

The reserve runs along the Hallabäckens valley, from Åvarp in the northwest to Stubbaröd in the southeast. Small unmarked paths start at each end. The paths run along the stream and further into the valley. They never meet, but are separated by wet areas and rocky cliffs in the middle of the area. If you walk from the northwest, the path is mainly surrounded by beech forest, while the path from the southeast also passes pastures. On both hikes you will see the remains of old quarries where diabase was mined. Of particular geological interest is the sandstone cliff Stora Älehallen (Elhall), which you reach via the path from Stubbaröd. The cliff consists of the oldest sedimentary rock in Skåne. In the northwest, the reserve borders Åvarps nature reserve Link to another website and Åvarps fälads nature reserve Link to another website. Here is a smaller parking pocket at the road barrier (must not be blocked). In the southeastern part there is a parking a few hundred meters north of Stubbaröd's farm that has room for 3-4 cars. Remember to take your trash home.

In English

Welcome to Hallabäckens dalgång Nature Reserve

You are standing in the fault zone where the horst Söderåsen was forced up some 150-200 million years ago. The fertile plains with pastures and fields stretch out below. In the middle of the Reserve, the mighty escarpment of Älehallen looms up. It looks as though the gnarly beech trees grow directly out of the gray sandstone escarpment.

The number of trees was at its lowest in the 1800s on the slopes of the ridge. There were several crofts in the area and the animals grazed in the outlying woodlands. Wet meadows lay alongside the stream, from which hay was cut.

Hallabäckens Dalgång (Hallabäcken Valley) is full of life. There are more than 600 different species of vascular plants here. The unusual and small wood speedwell and the magnificent great butterfly orchid and early purple orchid thrive in the nutrient rich soil. Orrödskärret lies furthest to the southeast. The calcareous water along with scythes and grazing animals have created a rich fen full of flowers such as bird's eye primrose, marsh helleborine and common butterwort.

Even if the woodland on several occasions has been heavily exploited, the trees on the slopes have been left. This is why there are rare lichens and fungi here, such as Opegrapha vermicellifera and pig's ears, which thrive in old broadleaved woodland.

Some 70 species of bird breed in the valley. If you are lucky you may see a grey wagtail looking for food along the stream or a hawfinch crushing a cherry seed with its powerful beak.

Regulations

Within Hallabäckens dalgång nature reserve it is forbidden to:

• damage natural objects or geological formations, by digging up or in any other way damaging boulders, stones, scree slopes, formations or stone walls,
• climb up the cliff which is marked on the map, between 1st February and 15th September,
• park up or stay overnight in a caravan, camper van or equivalent,
• bring dogs or other pets not on a lead,
• dig up plants, pick mosses, lichens or wood-living fungi,
• remove wood, break branches, fell or in any other way damage living or dead, standing or fallen trees and bushes,
• light a fire other than in designated places,
• cycle or horseride other than on designated roads,
• plant out foreign (for the site) plant or animal species,
• intentionally disturb or have an impact on wildlife, such as by chopping or moving decaying wood.

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

• put up signs, posters, plaques, tape, notices or any other equivalent items.

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

• catch invertebrates, such as beetles or mussels,
• put out foreign objects (e.g. geocaches or equivalent).