Ystads sandskog, Naturreservat

The Ystad Sand Forest Nature Reserve is located immediately east of Ystad. The long, narrow reserve stretches almost 4 km along the sea south of the coastal road. At the far eastern end, the Nybroån river has its outlet. The sandy beach is popular for swimming and sunbathing during the summer months, but is also used extensively as a walking area. The South Coast Path passes through Ystad Sand Forest, a cycle path that starts in Österlen and ends in northwestern Skåne on its way along the coast of Skåne.

Planted pine forest

The sand forest is dominated by pine trees that were planted in the 19th century to stop the sand drift that caused major problems in the area. Today, only small areas of shifting sand remain.

Fossil beach dunes

The pine forest grows on fossil dunes, which in turn cover geologically interesting beach embankments that were built up during the Littorinian period (4000 - 7000 years ago). At that time, the climate was milder than now and the sea level was higher. Between Ystad and Nybroån, there are a total of ten seawalls running parallel to the coast.

Blueberries and orchids

The vegetation in the sandy forest is sparse, with lingonberries, bilberries, heather and creeping thistle, but in wetter areas you may be lucky enough to see the unusual marsh violet or the orchids two-leaf or coral root. The sandy beaches are home to species such as marjoram and saltwort.

Wildlife

The wildlife in the area is rich with many breeding birds. The shallow coastal sandbanks are rich in fish and important for bird life, not least for migratory birds. During the summer, various terns, such as Little Tern and Sandwich Tern, can be seen flying along the shoreline.

Outdoor life

Both the Skåneleden trail (SL4 Österlen, stage 1) and the Sydkustleden cycle path run through the reserve. Skåneleden also links the two reserves Ystads Sandskog and Norra Sandskogen Link to another website.. In the latter there are more outdoor recreation opportunities. It is also possible to walk along the beach. The beach in the area is a popular bathing beach that is well visited during the summer. Remember to take your rubbish home. Dogs and horseback riding are prohibited on the beach from April 1 to September 30. There are parking lots and bus stops along road 9, which runs along the border of the reserve.

In English

Welcome to Ystad Sand Forest Nature Reserve

The pinewoods east of Ystad were planted in the 19th century, with a view to halting the shifting of sand that was a major problem in the area. Similar problems existed elsewhere in Scania (Skåne), and everywhere the cause was the same: the original woods and forests had been cut down, and wherever the soil was put to intensive use gaps would develop, giving the wind a chance to grab hold of the sand.

The pines themselves and meager vegetation such as wavy hair-grass, lingonberries, bilberries, and heather predominate in today's nature reserve. With a bit of luck, however, the visitor who looks in places where the soil is comparatively wet, may discover the rare marsh violet and two kinds of orchids, the common twayblade and coral-root. The fauna is abundant, especially around the old river-bed, with plenty of breeding birds.

The Ystad Sandwood (Ystad Sandskog) was formed as a nature reserve in 1989. The main purpose of turning the wood into a reserve was to preserve the character of the area, where sand dunes are partly overgrown with pines. The area forms part of the EU ecological network of protected areas, Natura 2000.

**From time to time, powerful under-water currents form along this coast. Take special care in, and after, windy weather! Stay close to the beach if you go swimming, and keep an eye on other swimmers!

Regulations

The regulations which apply in the reserves are set out on the notices displayed at the entrances and in swedish on this web page.