Prästbuans naturreservat

Prästbodarna, also called "Prästbuan", is today both a nature reserve and a mountain pasture. The area consists of a mosaic of marshland and upland coniferous forest varying between pine and spruce. There are also a lot of deciduous trees.

The area is located high at between 400-500 meters above sea level. The high altitude provides a harsh climate, which has created a nature of northern type. The reserve currently contains a number of threatened species of wood fungi and lichens, which will probably be able to develop into viable populations. Birds that depend on old trees and standing dead wood for nesting are favored.

90Insects that depend on old, dying and dead trees, as well as flames in various stages of decay, will also benefit. The untouched forest is and will become an increasingly important refuge for larger game and forest birds. The area is home to capercaillie, for example.

There are several footpaths, hiking trails and ski trails in the area, some of which connect to the Gyllberget nature reserve in Borlänge municipality. The reserve is most easily reached on the path from Fjästjärn along the road between towards Stockgropens fäbod.

The sheepfold got its name from the fact that the priest in Gagnef used to keep his animals here in the summer. At the time of the 1811-1817 land transfer, the pastures had 24 co-owners, mainly from Österfors, Gröntuv, Gräv and Tjärna, Västerfors and Moje.

The buffering road (you buffered when you brought the animals up to and from the pasture) Österfors-Prästbodarna was 30 kilometers and went via the floating bridge in Gagnef and the ferry at By. The road ended in Säl and from there the animals were loaded with all the supplies they needed to get to the pasture.

The long distance and the lack of a road meant that the herding stopped relatively early and many buildings were allowed to fall into disrepair. The pastor's residence was probably demolished in 1912 and the cottage was coaled in 1917. The coal was probably delivered to Nyhammars Bruk.

Friluftsfrämjande's picnic hut, which was built between 1960 and 1964, was made of timber from demolished and dilapidated buildings. In the cultural-historical environmental analysis, Prästbodarna has been described as an area of great cultural-historical and environmental value.