Lerbergsskogen, Naturreservat

Lerbergsskogen is a municipal forest reserve along the coast between Lerberget and Höganäs. The forest is a welcome break in the otherwise open landscape. Among the pines, shrubs and deciduous trees, many small birds find food and shelter. The paths through the lush forest are used frequently by school children and other nature visitors.

Treeless pasture 100 years ago

The coastal area has been used by humans for a long time and probably became treeless as early as the Bronze Age, and remained so until modern times. Older maps show that the nature reserve was sandy pasture with drifting sand and completely without trees in the 19th century. Today's forest has grown up mainly in the 20th century. Some pine was planted early on to prevent sand drift. More recently, the purpose of the forest has mainly been to enable recreation.

Today pine forest with birch and oak

Lerbergsskogen is dominated by pine, spring birch and to some extent forest oak. Closest to Lerbergsvägen there are large planted stands of mountain pine and the North American species beach pine. In the vicinity of the settlement in the north, planted beech dominates. In the south, blackberries tend to shade out the spring flora. In the more heathy and lean parts of the forest, the spring flora is better developed with squirrelberry, lily of the valley, wood anemone, wood anemone and cranesbill. Other typical forest species are wild honeysuckle and ferns such as bracken, wood fern and wood anemone. In glades and more light-open areas, you can see sand sedge, sweet pea, rootwort, heather, little bluebell and yellowhammer.

Common mosses and unusual fungi

The moss flora has great similarities with other southwestern Swedish pine forests, with forest species such as broom moss, house moss, wall moss and cypress braid. Among the fungi, there are findings of rarities such as isabell fly agaric, disk fungus and root morel.

Important forest for small birds

The relatively dense mixed forest and the availability of dead wood provide good conditions for a rich bird life, especially warblers. Species that have been noted include the gray warbler, hobby, black-and-white flycatcher, warbler, green warbler, greenfinch, blackcap, tree creeper, nuthatch, gray flycatcher and great spotted woodpecker. Some 50 nesting boxes have been installed to enable more nesting. The lack of forest along Skåne's west coast also makes Lerbergsskogen a resting place for migrating and wintering small birds. Here they can rest and eat before continuing their migration.

Wood gnawers, carrion beetles, bees and other odd bugs

Two exclusive wood-living insects have been found in connection with inventories in Lerbergsskogen. These are the wood rodent Priobium carpini, which in Sweden has only been found in Skåne, and the unusual grate beetle Anaspis regimbarti. Other unusual bugs that have been noted in the immediate area are the marsh bulrush spider, marsh grayling, yellow-brown carnation fly, privet fly, greater whitefly and large-ringed earthfly. The large predatory wasp Philanthus triangulum was abundant in several places, which indicates a valuable environment.

Outdoor life

The Lerbergsskogen nature reserve is one of the few forest areas close to urban areas in Höganäs and Lerberget. This makes the forest a popular destination for preschools, schools and local residents. There is also an electric light trail and an outdoor gym. For visitors by car, there is a parking lot to the south at Östra Vägen in Lerberget, and one to the north between Höganäsvägen 10 and the forest.