Halmmyran, Naturreservat

Halmmyran is one of the most valuable wetlands in the county. The reserve consists of a limestone-rich extreme rick marsh that is largely surrounded by limestone-affected coniferous swamp forest, both with a species-rich flora.

The purpose of the reserve

The purpose of the reserve is to preserve biodiversity and a valuable culturally influenced natural environment, specifically one of the county's most species-rich and valuable extreme rice marshes and associated lime-affected coniferous swamp forests.

Calcareous moraine provides species richness

The last ice sheet brought with it large amounts of calcareous till from the Jämtland Cambrosilur bedrock. It is this calcareous soil layer that today gives the area around Borgsjö and Halmmyran its special geochemical properties and valuable flora.

Both open mire and swamp forest

In the central parts of the area, the wetland is open, although parts are slowly becoming overgrown with small pine and birch plants. On the open mire there is a mosaic of marshes and tussocks with rice vegetation. Towards the edges, the wetland turns into coniferous swamp forest. In the north-eastern corner of the reserve there is a large spring, and from here a path with spring-affected vegetation runs out towards the bog.

Rich marsh mosses and orchids

A number of mosses grow in the bottom layer of the open bog, indicating rich marshes and a calcareous environment. They have intriguing names such as scorpion moss, sausage scorpion moss, worm yellow moss, triangular swan moss, ant moss and club moss. Some species that indicate source influence are clothoid moss, spring moss and northern tuff moss.

Both on the open mire and in the swamp forest, rich marsh species are found, such as grass wool, narrow sedge, wire sedge, snipe, hair sedge and head sedge. The area also has a rich flora with orchids such as soapleaf, spearwort and marsh helleborine (all protected). There is also an older find of the rare untoothed grass snail in the northern parts of the reserve.

Fäbodlämningar and pilgrimage trail

West of Halmmyran there are pastoral remains from Ensillrebodarna. Among other things, there are 13 house foundations, clearing cairns and remains of a fence. In the past, cattle were kept on the pasture during the summer so that they could graze in the surrounding woodland. The proximity to the pasture, the name Halmmyran and old map data (legal parcel from 1881) show that the wetland was previously used for mire grazing.

Just north of the reserve, at the spring, passes St. Olavsleden, the world's northernmost pilgrimage trail. From the trail, a path leads into the reserve and down to the spring. There is a wooden deck with a barbecue area and a large shelter where you can spend the night.

Nearby reserves

A little to the west is the nature reserve Ensillre kalkbarrskog.