Stora Harrie mosse, Naturreservat

Stora Harrie mosse is a remnant of a formerly much larger fen complex that has been subjected to drainage and cultivation. Today, only the central parts remain as a very fine extreme rich marsh. The special nature type of the bog is home to a species-rich plant and animal life with many rare species.

Rich marshes and calcareous wet meadows

The richest flora in the reserve is found in the rich marsh and the limestone meadows. Here you will find a number of rare species such as black toadflax, corn vetch, hay flower, wild linden, sedge, marsh elder and grass wool, as well as the orchids wax keys, meadow keys and marsh clubroot.

Small and unusual shells

Two very small and rare gastropods also live here, the narrow-mouthed gastropod and the limestone marsh gastropod (with shells barely 2 mm in size). There are over 100 species of terrestrial gastropods in Sweden, with the common feature that they all require access to lime and moisture. Unlike our common garden snail, most are very small and overlooked.

Meadows and pastures

There are areas of wet meadows on either side of the fen. Parts of the meadows have been managed by mowing for a long time, which has created a somewhat different flora than if the land had been grazed. Various species of low sedges grow here, together with meadowsweet and brown plantain, among others. Other parts of the land, especially the drier ones, have been cultivated and here you can also see traces of sown grasses and clover.

Restoration of the bog

As a result of drainage, overgrowth and, in recent years, the complete cessation of grazing in the bog, the flora has been depleted. Stora Harrie Mosse has therefore been the subject of restoration measures. Among other things, a spruce grove has been felled, bushes have been cleared and a number of ditches have been filled in to raise the groundwater level.