Hovdala, Naturreservat

Hovdala Nature Reserve is located by Lake Finja. And it is part of a large recreational area around Hovdala Castle. Here you will find lush broadleaf forests, open pastures and miles of views. The large areas of mixed tree species and dead wood are unparalleled in Sweden. Nature is rich in species, with many rare plants and animals. No fewer than 18 of Sweden's 19 bat species are found here. In the west, the area is embraced by Matterödsåsen and in the east, Göingeåsen towers up. The varied nature offers several miles of fine hiking opportunities with Hovdala Castle as a hub.

Planned nature conservation burning in March-April

Sometimes the meadow must burn, so that species do not disappear! Therefore, the County Administrative Board carries out planned nature conservation burning in several protected areas during March-April, including here.

Prehistoric settlement and gate tower from the 1600s

Rock carvings, fossilized farmland and a prehistoric settlement in Dalleröd. Yes, there are many traces of all the people who have lived in the area over the millennia. The forest has also been shaped by older generations collecting firewood. This probably took off in connection with the construction of Hovdala Castle in the early 1500s. The stately gate tower was first built in 1600. Today it is the only building left from that time. The rest of the buildings were destroyed during the Scanian War of 1675-79, when the Danes tried to retake Skåne, which had recently become Swedish. The rest of today's buildings date from the early 18th century.

Exciting ruin and the croft Boketorp

In the 1790s, the owner of Hovdala Castle began to build an observatory in the middle of the then rocky heathland southwest of the castle. For a long time it was thought to be a library building, but later research suggests that it was an observatory for stargazing. In today's forest, among the beech trees, rise the ruins of this imaginative stone building. The so-called library ruin is located along one of the hiking trails and is today a popular attraction. In a tributary of the Hovdala River lie the remains of two toll mills. The upper one was in operation between 1804 and 1920. Adjacent to the mills is the 19th century house Boketorp, which is now used for educational activities. Most of the crofts and farms that previously existed in the area disappeared either in connection with dam construction and gravel extraction or when it became a military training area in the mid-20th century.

Military training area protected the forest

When Hovdala became a military training area around 1950, forestry ceased. Something that led to today's high natural values. When old trees and dead wood are left behind, habitat is created for many now unusual plants and animals. No forestry operations have been carried out in Dallerödsskogen since the Second World War. But at that time, many of the older trees were cut for firewood that was sent to Malmö. Today there are nutrient-rich beech and oak forests, but also deciduous swamp forests along the streams down to Lake Finja. The amount of dead wood is abundant. The ground is home to yellow dock, lungwort, horsetail, bracken fern, columbine and goldenrod. There are also many mosses and lichens. Examples of species include ash wart lichen, western house moss and the exclusive pepper plant. Among the birds are green warbler, duck, goshawk, red-winged blackbird, lesser spotted woodpecker, and woodpecker. The area is unique from both a national and an international perspective.

Winding river with mussels

Hovdalaån is a strongly meandering river in a deciduous forest-covered valley. It is home to around a hundred individuals of the rare river pearl mussel. Unfortunately, the population is declining and is in danger of disappearing. The river is also home to the flat pond mussel and the true river mussel. Birds such as the turquoise-red kingfisher, the yellow-grey white-tailed godwit, and the otter-like otter, which swims in the water, can be seen along the river. The swamp forest closest to the river is occasionally flooded and there are alders with rough plinths. Old but small beech and hornbeam grow on the sides of the valley. On the ground you can see yellow thistle, desm bud and plenty of mosses and lichens. Some of them have names like pink lichen, beech spring lichen and beech edge lichen. You can also see the coral-like fungus coral tag fungus. Wood pigeons and stone curlews are some of the birds of the forest.

Old forest with bats

The old deciduous forest is home to many bats. One of them is the barbastelle. Another is the very rare Bechstein's bat, which is only found in a few places in Sweden, especially at Nävlingeåsen in Skåne. At Björkviken in Hovdala you can also see the southern pipistrelle and the lesser brown bat. The Hovdalaån valley and its surroundings are one of Sweden's most species-rich bat locations. 18 of Sweden's 19 bat species are found here. Other species in the area include the greater mouse-eared bat, the southern bat, the northern bat, the lesser long-eared bat, the brown long-eared bat, the common pipistrelle, the little brown bat and the greater brown bat.

Outdoor life

Hovdala Nature Reserve consists of three large sub-areas: the forests south of Hovdala Castle, as well as Dalleröd and Solhem-Björkviken by Lake Finja. All three are part of a larger outdoor area with Hovdala Castle as the hub. There are many circular trails: Hovdala Trail (57 km), Finjasjöleden Trail (20 km), Höjdarnas höjdarled (22 km), Jakten på Gullspiran (21 km), I Posta-Nillas spår (26 km) and Dammslingan (4 km) as well as a dog sled (6 km). At the same time as the Skåneleden trail (SL2 north to south stages 4A and 4B) passes through the area. Hovdala is also a popular area for mountain biking. Hovdala Castle with its garden and restaurant is located right next to the nature reserve and is a suitable starting point for hikes, as is Boketorp a stone's throw away. Boketorp is a newly renovated house from the 1800s with a classroom. There are also toilets and a drinking water tap. There are also nice resting opportunities next to the Dalleröd sub-area. At Dalleröd there is also the spectacular Trädhuset with a view of Finjasjön. The Solhem-Bäckviken sub-area is located on the shore of Lake Finja and close to Björkviken's bathing area for those who feel like swimming. There are opportunities to grill in the designated fireplaces throughout the area. Remember to bring charcoal and to take your rubbish home.

Hammarmölledamm will be demolished

The Land and Environment Court has decided that Hammarmölledamm and its hydroelectric power plant must be demolished. Information about how the work will be done and when it will take place will be available on Hässleholms Industribyggnads AB's (HIBAB's) website. Here you can also find the judgment where it is possible to read about when pre-preparations, lowering and demolition may take place.

HIBAB's press release on the demolition of Hammarmölledamm 2025-04-08 Pdf, 426.5 kB.