Prinskullen, Naturreservat

From the Prinskullen nature reserve, you have a fine view of Stjärnsund Castle and Hammar Church. According to tradition, this is where Prince Gustav, the poet prince, sat and got inspiration for his poems and music. The hill got its name from this.

Gravel ridge with dead ice pit

The Prinskullen nature reserve was established in the late 1970s to preserve part of Askersundsåsen from being exploited as a gravel pit. In the southern part of the reserve is a ridge about 15 meters high. Flatter sand deposits extend north of this. A pond, Rudatjärnen, has formed in a so-called ridge pit or dead ice pit. The pit was formed when a block of ice from the ice sheet was buried in the ridge gravel and then melted.

Cranberries in the bog

Rudatjärnen is surrounded by pine forest, which closer to the pond turns into a pine bog, where, in addition to white moss, cloudberry, cranberry and more grow. The bog is also home to the carnivorous plant greater horsetail. The pond is abundant with white water lily.

Rough coniferous forest and grazed pasture

Prinskullen has a coarse mixed coniferous forest and the more low-lying parts have deciduous forest with birch, ash, alder and oak. The northern part is a pasture with oak and hazel. Older oaks remain from the time when the forest was used as a deciduous meadow. In spring, the ground here is completely covered with wood anemones. Bluebells are found under the hazel thickets. The moss flora is rich in the damp environment, including curly-leaved moss on hazel and palm moss on the ground.

Best picnic spot?

There are picnic tables at the top of the hill, overlooking Stjärnsund, and at the far end of the headland in the pasture. A beautiful cycle path runs a long way from Askersund.

Extension of the pasture

Parts of the forest in the nature reserve have recently been thinned and cleared of spruce, younger trees and undergrowth to create new and expanded pasture in the reserve. Creating clearings allows a lot of light to reach the trees and plants on the ground in patches. Increased light penetration benefits not least the old, large oaks and their successors, but also other valuable deciduous trees in the reserve. The restoration also emphasizes the landforms in the reserve, i.e. the ridge and the view towards Stjernsund Castle. Visitors are welcome as before and can enter the reserve through simple gates. Show consideration for the grazing animals, close the gates behind you and keep your dog on a leash.