Prästabonnaskogen, Naturreservat

Prästabonnaskogen nature reserve is located between Tjörnarpssjön and Tjörnarps railway station. Lush beech forest and well-trodden paths lead to swimming areas, jetties and barbecue areas. Old stone cairns are reminiscent of the farming hardships of earlier times.

Noble leaves, ticks and lichens

Parts of the deciduous forest consist of forest that is over 150 years old. There are quite a lot of high stumps and dead or dying trees. These create conditions for an abundance of arboreal fungi. Many ticks start to grow in damage to living trees, which eventually causes the tree to die or break off. This creates the dead wood on which many fungi, lichens and insects depend.

Young forest and swamp forest

The central part of the forest grows on land that was once grazed. Here the trees are about a hundred years old or younger. The forest will be allowed to develop freely and the amount of dead wood will gradually increase. Over time, a natural forest-like broadleaf forest will form, with all that this means for the diversity of organisms. To the east is a deciduous swamp forest with ash, alder and silver birch.

Wings and tails

The dead or dying trees become food and shelter for many bugs and their larvae. The table is set for bats and birds. Woodpeckers enlarge cavities for their nests which, when abandoned, can be taken over by wood pigeons or bats. In the westernmost part of the area, a pond and a floodplain are planned as a spawning ground for fish, including pike, which spawn in March-April.

Outdoor recreation

Come by train to Tjörnarp and go straight out into nature. Three circular trails start from the west side of the railway station: Tjörnarpssjön runt (5.8 km, red) and Bokskogsrundan (3 km, green) both go through Prästabonnaskogen. Here you are greeted by nice lake views and swimming opportunities in Tjörnarpssjön.

There are opportunities to grill at designated places, but remember to bring your own charcoal and to take your garbage home. There is also a newly created wetland with a viewing platform and barbecue facilities in the south-western part of the reserve.

The blue route (Tegelbruksrundan 4.7 km) just passes Prästabonnaskogen and continues instead to the municipal nature reserve Tegeldammarna-Lergravarna Link to another website.. On the way there, you will pass the magnificent and historically interesting ring kiln for brick burning in Gunnarp.

Parking is available at the train station in the village and at the church. The hiking trails start on the west side of the station area and are collected in the leaflet Hiking trails from Tjörnarp station Link to another website, opens in new window.

From the reserve there is also a connecting trail (3 km) north to Skåneleden (SL2, north to south, stage 6).

In English

Welcome to Prästabonnaskogen Nature Reserve

A broadleaved woodland area awaits visitors at Prästabonnaskogen Nature Reserve. Paths lead you to places where you can swim, jetties and barbequing areas. Clearance cairns and the remains from peat extraction remind us of a long history of human presence.

Broadleaves, brackets and lichens

Parts of the broadleaved woodland are more than 150 years old. There are quite a lot of standing dead or dying trees and logs here. This provides good conditions for plenty of wood-living fungi. Many brackets start to grow where living trees are damaged, which eventually results in the tree dying or breaking. This is how the decaying wood is created, that so many fungi, lichens and insects are dependent upon.

Young woodland and wet woodland

The central part of the woodland grows on land that was once grazed. Here the trees are up to around one hundred years old. The woodland will be allowed to develop naturally and with time, the amount of decaying wood will increase. A more natural, old growth woodland will be created gradually, with all the variety of associated organisms. To the east there is a wet woodland with ash, alder and downy birch.

Wing beats and fin beats

The dead or dying trees provide food and protection for many small creepy crawlies and their larvae. The table is thus laid for bats and birds. Woodpeckers make holes larger for their nests, which may then be taken over by stock doves or bats, when they are abandoned by the woodpeckers. In the most westerly part of the site, a pond with a wet flush area is planned to provide spawning grounds for fish, including pike that spawn in March-April.

Regulations

Within Prästabonnaskogen Nature Reserve it is forbidden to:

• damage natural objects or geological formations,
• bring dogs or other pets not on a lead,
• dig up plants, pick mosses, lichens or wood-living fungi,
• intentionally break or collect and remove dead wood.

Without permission from the County Administrative Board it is also forbidden to:

• put up signs, posters, plaques, tape, notices or any other equivalent items,
• collect invertebrates, e.g. beetles. One off samples may be collected on the condition that this does not contravene any wildlife protection regulations and that traps are not used,
• put out foreign objects (e.g. geocaches or equivalent).