Björnsundet

Lake Vällen is surrounded by several nature reserves, of which Björnsundet is the smallest and most easily accessible. The nature is varied with deciduous coniferous forests, old pastures and two species-rich wetlands, Lindbolsmossen and Storkärren. Near the lake, nature is lush with plenty of older deciduous trees. Here you will find a grove-like flora and in the spring you can see flowering herbs such as woundwort, musk madder and under-violet. In the far south are overgrown pastures, where large oaks spread their wide crowns.

Further into the reserve there is older coniferous forest that is naturally regenerated. Among the pines there are also many old aspens, large stumps and dead trees. The decaying wood is very important for the species richness of the forest, as it is a habitat for a variety of plants and insects that can only live in such environments.

If you continue eastwards, you will come to Lindbolsmossen, which is a so-called extreme rich bog. The soil is poor in nutrients, but very rich in species. The partially open wetland is home to several rare species, such as the limestone bog snail, the club moss, the knotweed and the marsh spire. Lindbolsmossen is drained via Storkärren, which is an older swamp forest.

Old clearings are slowly being transformed into a varied deciduous forest, but traces of forestry are still visible. Several unusual and threatened species live in this multifaceted nature: insects such as the aspen splinter beetle and black ox, birds such as the three-toed woodpecker and the lesser flycatcher, as well as the candelabra fungus and aspen feather moss.

The busy road between Uppsala and Hallstavik runs through the reserve, but it is possible to discover the forest on foot on Upplandsleden. The trail is large boulders and sometimes you may have to use both hands and feet to balance yourself. A real magical forest!

Manager: County Administrative Board