Warragården, Naturreservat

You'll find Warragården north of Osby - near the border with Småland. The reserve is like a small island of meadows and beech forest, in the middle of northern Skåne's spruce forest belt. The natural beech forest has a unique lichen flora for the area, with species such as noble lichen, pink lichen and lung lichen. There are no facilities for outdoor recreation, but you are welcome to roam freely. There is a small parking lot in the larger sub-area in the northeast.

Beech forest in a coniferous forest belt

Warragården Nature Reserve is located in northern Skåne, near the border with Småland. Here, spruce forests are a common sight, but in Warragården you are met by beech forests. The beech forest is the original forest type that existed in the area before the spruce plantations were established. The absence of modern forestry has meant that many sensitive beech forest species still live here.

Natural forest with unique lichens

The forest, which is mostly nutrient-poor heath beech forest, is similar to natural forest. The forest is varied, with a mix of young and old trees, trees of different species and appearance, but also dead wood of different sizes and stages of decomposition. This makes Warragården's beech forest one of the best lichen habitats in northern Skåne.

Many trees are white with barnacle lichen and green with flat feather moss. Rarities such as noble lichen, pink lichen, red pyssling lichen, wood lichen club, lung lichen, orange-powdered scribble lichen, small lichen, beech spring lichen and beech edge lichen, checkerboard, dwarf beech lichen, rust spot, maple lichen and golden curl moss also grow on the trunks. The amount of dead wood is fairly high.

Under the crowns of the trees, the whitethroats spread out in the spring. Among the birds, there are species such as the skylark, green warbler, wood pigeon, nuthatch and tree creeper.

Wooded bog and an island of coniferous forest

In the large sub-area with beech forest there is also a wooded bog. White moss, cranberries and marsh lilies can be seen in glades. The reserve also includes parts of the island Feremossen out in Lake Örsjön. Here there is a very inaccessible and uncultivated spruce and pine forest of natural forest character.

The meadow will bloom again

The reserve also contains open land that has historically been used for cultivation, hay production and grazing. In the sub-area near the village of Kylen, remnants of the older, more open landscape can be seen, with several really large oaks, as well as older lime trees, aspens and hazel. In the open meadow areas, flowering plants such as field bindweed, lesser bluebell, yellow poppy and St John's wort can be seen. In the wetter parts, meadow grass grows with elements of beach heather. The flowers are of great importance to the area's pollinating insects.

In order for the flowering plants to remain in the long term, it is of great importance that the overgrown land begins to be managed again through grazing, mowing and possibly with the help of conservation burning.

Next to the road in the southern sub-area was the Warra farm itself, which has given the reserve its name. The farmstead dates back to the 16th century, but today only a diffuse house foundation remains, as well as gateposts, fruit trees and an earth cellar.

Outdoor life

Warragården nature reserve is located north of Osby, near the border with Småland. The reserve consists of three sub-areas. The larger area with beech forest is located northeast of the small village of Kylen. There is a small parking lot and an easy forest road that leads you into the area. Closest to the village of Kylen is the sub-area with remnants of an older agricultural landscape with meadows, pastures and old oaks and lime trees. There is only a small parking lot here. There are no facilities for outdoor recreation, but you are welcome to roam freely. The third area is a very inaccessible island with coniferous forest out in Lake Örsjön.