Gårdby alvar, Naturreservat

In the nature reserve there is everything from barren rocky areas to lush wet meadows. A number of plants and animals typical of the alvar live here. Several of these are rare, and some are even unique to the alvars on the island.

Barren and lush

The nature of the reserve is dominated by barren alvar land and lush wet meadows. In the north and along the western border of the reserve there are small groves of oak and hazel, otherwise open spaces dominate. A stream runs through the middle of the area, bordered by rich marshes.

Alvarets flora

The plants on the alvar are hardy and resilient. They have to cope with both harsh winters and summer droughts. They must also withstand grazing and hoof trampling! A characteristic species of the island alvars is the island sunflower, which is found nowhere else in the world. Other typical species are soapwort, stonewort, alvarglim, rock crab and small sand lily. The lichen flora is also rich. One example is the worm lichen, which has been present on the alvar since the inland ice released its grip on Öland around 12,000 years ago. Here and there among the flat rocks rise low moraine ridges where meadow oats, sundew and field bindweed grow.

Rich wet meadows

In the wet meadows, orchid enthusiasts will get their fill of bridal spurge, waxflower and flyflower. The crown jewel among the orchids is the small honeyflower, a very rare species. Other plants typical of the wetlands include mayweed, meadowsweet and millet sedge. The rare meadow butterfly, whose larvae feed on meadowsweet, can be seen flying over the flower-rich wet meadows in some years.

Memories of the past

Humans have lived and worked on Öland for the past 5000 years. On Gårdby alvar there is a small burial ground with six ancient remains. The graves are probably from the Iron Age and consist of round and rectangular stones and two standing stones. Across the burial ground is a stone wall that forms the border with Torslunda parish.