Ginbergsängen, Naturreservat

Älvnäs with swamp forest and sandy beaches

Ginbergsängen is an islet in the Klarälven valley. The whole isthmus was previously a village community. Cows and sheep were grazed here, hay was taken and there were small fields. However, the poor sandy soils did not yield any major harvests and the number of farmers decreased over time. Between 1940 and 1950, farming ceased completely.

The flowing water of the Klarälven river burrows into the sediment layers and forms the valley's characteristic isthmus, of which Ginbergsängen is an example. The isthmus is constantly changing. The Klarälven's currents dig into the northern part of the isthmus and carry away sand, moss and plant parts. The material follows the river and is re-deposited in the southern part of the isthmus where the water currents subside. At high tide, the sandbanks are built up further and when the river sinks back to its normal level, the remains of the deposited material remain in the form of river banks. Several old river banks can be seen inside the reserve.

The reserve was established to preserve one of Klarälven's islets with characteristic surface shapes, deciduous forests of natural forest character and special shore environments, and to preserve the area's rich flora and fauna. The area is part of the EU network of protected areas, Natura 2000.

Animals and plants

The deciduous forest has reclaimed the wetland and insects, birds and plants that belong in the swamp forest are slowly coming back. Along the riverbank, the alder forest is giving way to dense stands of willow, where the rare sundew and almond willow also thrive. Both have a large part of their Swedish occurrence along the Klarälven. Ginbergsängen is home to a very special beetle fauna, with rare species of ground beetle such as the beach sandpiper, the silver runner and the bridge beach runner. These are linked to sandy river banks and the latter two have their main occurrence in Sweden along the Klarälven. In Ginbergsängen, a large number of species of wood-boring beetles and other insects have also been found in the deciduous forest, which offers plenty of suitable habitats in the form of dead and dying trees and sunny glades with plenty of herbs.

Ginbergsängen also offers several small waters that have been cut off from Klarälven as the land has risen, and these are home to the lemon-spotted dragonfly and many other bugs that are linked to warm small waters. They are also home to many common frogs and toads. Thanks to the different habitats and the abundance of bugs, many birds also thrive in the reserve, such as various warblers, thrushes, tits and woodpeckers.