Östra Ejaröd, Naturreservat

The nature reserve Östra Ejaröd consists mainly of deciduous forest that has remained unaffected by rational forestry over the past 50 years. In the reserve you will also find a small section of alpine swamp forest and the impressive Klåhall migratory block.

Beech forest that has been left to age in peace

In Östra Ejaröd, the forest has been sparsely managed since the mid-20th century. No rational forestry has taken place in the area over the past 50 years, and only firewood and timber for domestic use has been taken from the forest. This has resulted in a timber-rich forest with many multi-stemmed and late-growing beech trees. The forest consists mainly of beech, oak, birch and bird cherry with a maximum age of between 75 and 120 years.

Valuable forest environments

Because the forest has been left untouched for so long, it has begun to develop structures that are important for biodiversity. Dead wood is common in the reserve, creating conditions for fungi, wood-dwelling insects and many birds. The bird fauna of Östra Ejaröd includes the common crow, great spotted woodpecker, tree creeper and green warbler.

Natural pasture with oak, beech and a

In the southern part of the reserve, there is a natural pasture with sparse oak and beech trees and junipers.

Accessibility

The nature reserve has very limited use by outdoor life. It can be difficult to get to the area because it is surrounded by arable land. There are also no hiking trails or paths in the reserve. Remember to take your rubbish home.

In English

Welcome to Östra Ejaröd Nature Reserve

The forest in Östra Ejaröd has been left to grow naturally. In the past 50 years, only timber and wood for domestic requirements has been chopped down. This has created a dense forest with thin, sometimes multi-stemmed, beeches interspersed with occasional specimens of oak, wild cherry and birch.

The forest will be left to age undisturbed, while careful conservation clearance will result in more dead wood, producing important habitats for fungi, wood-living insects and breeding birds. Within the beech forest you find marshy deciduous forest dominated by birch. A large erratic block, Klåhall, is found in the southern part of the reserve.

The nature reserve is divided into two parts, which in addition to forest contain natural pastures. A pond, Lindgrens grop, is found in the northern pasture. Great crested newts spawn
here, and the pond is also an important feeding place for bats. The treecreeper (Certhia familiaris) is the only small bird in Sweden which is brown with a curved bill and climbs up trees like a mouse. It is rarely spotted anywhere apart from on tree trunks.

Regulations

Within Östra Ejaröd Nature Reserve it is forbidden to:

• damage fixed natural objects or surface formations,
• bring unleashed dogs or other loose pets,
• pick or dig up plants, pick mosses, lichens or wood-living fungi,
• deliberately break up, or collect and remove dead wood.

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

• collect invertebrate animals, e.g. beetles. Occasional specimens may be collected providing it is not contrary to species protection regulations and that traps are not used.
• place out alien objects (e.g. geocaches or similar).

Furthermore, without permission from the manager it is forbidden to:

• put up boards, signs, posters, paper strips or similar, or make inscriptions.