Västeråsmossen, Naturreservat

The Västeråsmossen nature reserve contains one of the county's largest bogs. The bird-rich bog is home to black grouse, cranes and golden plovers, among others. The area is also rich in owls - both barn owls and barn owls occur regularly. At Björntjärn there is a real magical forest with large boulders and spruces full of hanging lichens.

Bird-rich moorland

In early spring mornings, the cooing of the grouse can be heard over the mire. Cranes, golden plovers and snipe also nest here. The flight of the snipe is best heard at dusk or dawn. The characteristic humming sound heard when the bird dives through the air is produced by the vibrating outer tail feathers. Another noisy bird on the moors is the green-winged teal, which likes to bark at visitors from the top of a small pine tree. In the area's ponds, you can spot both whooper swans and moorhens.

Forest birds

The surrounding forest is home to typical forest birds such as the capercaillie, the robin and the three-toed woodpecker. The area is also rich in owls. The barn owl is the most common, but you can also spot Sweden's smallest owl, the barn owl, which is only a few centimeters high. Barn owls and barn owls are also regularly observed at Västeråsmossen.

Uncultivated bogs

Västeråsmossen is one of the largest bogs in the county. Most of it is unaffected by drainage and peat extraction. The bog is divided into lobes by two high moraine ridges, Västeråsen and Uddfallsåsen, both with steep slopes and rock walls facing the bog. Between the ridges, around Västeråsflyna, there are the richest marsh areas of the mire, with demanding species such as the fat pine moss and the semi-grass snip. Otherwise, the mire consists of nutrient-poor bogs and fens, with white mosses, heather, cranberries and various species of sedges.

Old growth forest

The forest included in the reserve is affected by forestry and therefore has limited natural values, with some exceptions. South of Björntjärn is a magical old-growth forest with large boulders and aged spruces that modern forestry has not reached. There are several unusual species associated with untouched old-growth forest, including the lichens shadow blue lichen and Norwegian beak lichen. Both require consistently high humidity and cannot tolerate felling, either on or near the site.

Fire as nature conservation management

In the past, forest fires were a common occurrence in our forests, here and there in the reserve you will find traces of old pines after older forest fires. Fire is a necessity for a large number of plants and animals, which over the millennia have adapted to the habitat provided by fire. In order to benefit and preserve the area's fire-favoring species, the County Administrative Board conducts controlled conservation burns in the nature reserve. Between 2015 and 2019, the area was included in a project focusing on conservation burning, Life Taiga.

Experience the bog in winter

Wetlands, bogs and fens are usually difficult to access during the warmer seasons, especially those without paths. But with the help of snow, ice and frost, they become easier to explore in winter. Once the snow has settled, our bogs are perfect for a skiing trip, where you can enjoy the tranquillity and open expanses of bog. In fact, if there's no snow, snowshoes are a great way to get across the bogs. Keep an eye out in the sky, you might catch a glimpse of a bird of prey or two.

Restored wetlands

In the 20th century, many ditches were dug in woodlands to grow more trees and provide wood for the forest industry. By plugging the ditches in the early 2020s, previously ditched land in the reserve was restored.

Accessibility

Västeråsmossen belongs to level 1 in the County Administrative Board's leveling of the county's nature reserves, which means that the reserve has a wilderness character and lacks outdoor recreation facilities.