Hjulsta ekhagar

Peacefully grazing animals under wide-crowned oaks, the old pastures are like something out of an idyllic picture book. Unfortunately, perhaps Uppland's finest oak area is split in half by the busy highway 55, so you have to choose which side you want to visit first.

In the eastern meadow, you can wander among ancient remains and flowering herbs. It is an ancient cultural landscape with roots far back in the Late Iron Age, that is, the period between 500-1050 AD. We know that people lived here even then thanks to two burial grounds with about 40 visible stone circles.

Take a seat on one of the well-sanded rocks or in the shade of an oak tree and enjoy the sweet scents of the herbs. Here you will find, among other things, sundew, maidenhair fern and clove. The wildflowers thrive thanks to the animals; only if the vegetation is kept down can they get all the sun and warmth they need.

Some of the largest oaks can be found in the western part. In the past, the pasture was grazed by the king's sheep, but when grazing ceased, the pasture began to grow again. Nowadays, however, the area is to be kept open again by grazing cows and will soon be as accessible as the eastern part.

Grazed pastures with old oak trees are perfect habitats for a variety of insects, lichens and fungi. These tiny organisms may be inconspicuous and hard to spot, but they are still worth protecting. One of the area's rarest inhabitants is the endangered leatherback beetle, whose larvae develop in hollow old oaks. And yes, it does smell like leather!

There are also lots of small birds that live in all the shrubs and deciduous trees of the pastures. Enjoy the beautiful nature and the birds' songs, but be careful not to disturb the animals and plant life.

Administrator: County Administrative Board of Uppsala County