Mälarhusen, Naturreservat

The Mälarhusen nature reserve borders the much larger Sandhammaren reserve. Together they protect tree-covered dunes with sunlit glades inside the beach.

It is said that it was Charles XI who had the last parts of the original oak forest cut down in the 1600s. The result was an open, grazed coastal heathland. But as the population grew, the animals became too numerous. The trampling and grazing caused the vegetation to disappear and the sand to be released. This is when the great work of planting pine trees to prevent the sand from reaching the surrounding agricultural landscape began.

Here in Mälarhusen, pine dominates the forest, while in the neighboring reserve Sandhammaren Link to another website. there is a lot of oak. The small-grown and gnarled oak that is typical of forests along the sea is called oak scrub. The area has been allowed to develop freely and today consists of different environments depending on whether the ground is dry or wet. The variation creates good conditions for a rich diversity of plants, animals and fungi.

In English

Welcome to Mälarhusen Nature Reserve

Mälarhusen Nature Reserve borders on the significantly larger Sandhammaren Nature Reserve. Together, the reserves protect wooded sand dunes with sunlit glades.

It is said that king Karl XI in the 17th century ordered the last areas of the original oak forest to be cut down. The result was an open, grazed coastal heath landscape. But as the population grew, so did the number of animals. Too much trampling and grazing meant that the vegetation disappeared and the sand became exposed. A large-scale project of pine planting began to prevent the sand from reaching the surrounding agricultural landscape.

Here in Mälarhusen, pine dominates the forest, whereas the neighboring Sandhammaren reserve contains quite a lot of oak. The gnarled, slow-growing oak, is typical for coastal forests.

The area has been allowed to develop freely and today consists of different environments, depending on whether the ground is wet or dry. This variation creates favorable conditions for a rich diversity of plants, animals and fungi.

Regulations

Within Mälarhusen nature reserve it is forbidden to:

• put up notice boards, signs, posters, papers strips, or similar, or make inscriptions. This does not apply to reserve information boards and signs or landmarks,
• catch or collect insects or other animals, or in any other way disturb wildlife,
• pick, dig up, or in any other way damage vascular plants, mosses or lichens,
• fall or in any other way damage living or dead trees or shrubs,
• remove wood from the area,
• in a disturbing manner use radios, music players, musical instruments, or similar,
• drive motorized vehicles,
• camp, or park caravans, camper vans, or similar,
• ride or drive horses,
• light fires,
• bring unleashed dogs or other loose pets,
• organize competitions that may disturb the natural environment.