Kappsta naturreservat

Kappsta is a 13-hectare nature reserve in southern Lidingö. South-facing slopes and damp nature mean that many plants thrive well and there is a unique mix of wild vegetation and wild garden plants from the last century.

Raoul Wallenberg was born in Kappsta and spent many summers here during his childhood. The house burned down in 1933, but much of the site is reminiscent of the time when it was one of Lidingö's first summer residences on a 6.5 hectare plot.

The area is close to the sea and the terrain is very hilly. Due to its location facing south and a mountain ridge to the north, with the highest point 25 meters above sea level, the average temperature is noticeably higher than in other places on Lidingö. A local greenhouse effect occurs when the mountain ridge receives more solar energy, resulting in earlier spring and longer summer.

Several different habitat types are represented, such as rocky pine forest, blueberry spruce forest, broadleaf grove and rock and reed beach. In combination with wild garden plants, many brought from southern and central Europe in the 19th century, an exclusive dynamic arises between the wild and the odd cultivated plants. Among the wild plants are, for example, blue daisy, park buttercup and white buttercup. There are also two world-unique woodland fibroids and rare groves. The bluebell originates from imported grass seed mixtures.

There is also an exciting wildlife with several nesting bird species, including mute swan, great crested cormorant and common crow. Thanks to a lot of decaying wood, there is a varied insect fauna and you can find many unusual species of beetles and even unusual snails.

At the foundation of Raoul Wallenberg's birthplace, a large blood beech grows and if you follow the path towards the water, the deciduous trees form a large hall. At the water's edge there is a nice picnic cliff with a view of Fjäderholmarna, popular with sunbathers. There is also a so-called boatman's grave from ancient times. There are several barbecue areas in the area.

At the ruins of Raoul Wallenberg's birthplace, there is a memorial to him in the form of a bronze cast of his briefcase. The artwork was designed by Ulla and Gustav Kraitz.

Dogs must be kept on a leash in the nature reserve.