Vens backafall, Naturreservat

Som ett lösbrutet stycke av odlad slättbygd ligger ön Ven mitt i Öresund. Det öppna åkerlandskapet avslutas med branta sluttningar ned i havet, så kallade backafall. De är på sina ställen upp till 30–40 meter höga. Här finns både öppna rasbranter och sluttningar som är täckta av växtlighet, merparten är skyddat som naturreservat. Den kraftiga lutningen och rasrisken gör att du bäst upplever backafallens natur från cykelleden som går uppe längs krönet. Här har du dessutom en fin utsikt över havet med Danmark och svenska fastlandet i fjärran. Ön är som gjord för en dagsutflykt till cykel. Centralt på ön finns Tycho Brahe-museet med mer information om Vens besöksmål och intressanta historia.

In English

Welcome to Vens backafall Nature Reserve

With its impressive waterfalls and sweeping views across the strait, Ven has been attracting people since the Stone Age. For thousands of years, we have farmed the sandy soil and today summer tourists flock here. Sand martins and sand lizards live on the steep cliffs and brown knapweed and proliferous pink grow in the ancient pastures. The Reserve lies like a ring around the island and with the help of cycle tracks and the Skåneleden Trail, you can reach many exciting sights and unique countryside.

Ven's Backafall Nature Reserve forms a green band encircling the island of Ven. The steep slopes falling away to the sea are called backafall on Ven. They form the extremities of Ven's undulating cultivated landscape with precipices that are up to 40 metres high in places. From the edge of the slopes you can get a fantastic view out over the sea with Sweden and Denmark in the distance.

The nature reserve comprises a narrow strip along almost the entire coast. The steep slopes consist of both scree without vegetation and slopes covered in greenery. Species that thrive in dry, lime-rich ground grow here, such as Field Wormwood, Bloody Cranesbill and Boehmer's Cats-Tail. In wetter parts, there are areas of rich marsh, with species such as lesser pond sedge, St. Peter's Wort and Marsh Hawksbeard.

Ven is dominated by cultivated land, which means that these slopes are among the few natural environments that remain on the island. At the end of the 19th century, almost all of the slopes that were not too steep were covered with grassy heath. However, because grazing has ceased, large parts have regrown with hawthorn, blackthorn and blackberry. In several places elm, ash and cherry have appeared and created broad-leaved woodlands. Birds thrive in the shrubbery, with Common Linnet and Thrush Nightingale singing in the bushes. However, the characteristic species of this environment is surely the Sand Martin, which digs out its nests in the bare eroded slopes.

The Sand Lizard needs warmth and thrives where there is plenty of sun and sand. Ven has one of Sweden's largest populations of sand lizards. In spring and early summer, the males have a beautiful green shimmer on their abdomen, all so that they can impress the females. The eggs are laid in the warm sand and hatch in late summer.

The renowned astronomer and scientist Tycho Brahe lived on the island in the 16th century. In the middle of the island he built Uraniborg Castle, the underground observatory Stjerneborg and a fantastic renaissance garden. This is where you'll now find the Tycho Brahe Museum, which, among other things, has reconstructed the old instruments that Tycho Brahe used. Tycho Brahes paper mill was located within the nature reserve, by the outflow of Möllebäcken. Today there is a newly dug pond, and you can see the old dam embankments by the stream.

It's as if Ven was made especially for day trips. The island isn't very large, barely 4.5 km in length, and there are many beautiful paths to walk or cycle along. Ferries to Ven depart from Landskrona daily throughout the year. The journey takes around 30 minutes.

Regulations

Within Vens backafall Nature Reserve it is forbidden to:

• dig, bore, chisel or damage in any other way, the ground, boulders, or slopes subject to erosion,
• pick plants within the area which is marked with orange hatching on the map,
• light a fire other than where there is no vegetation on the ground by the shore,
• camp or park up a caravan, camper van or equivalent,
• use a radio, music system or equivalent in a disturbing way,
• put up notices, plaques, signs, posters, tape, or any equivalent items.

Map, Vens backafall (where it is forbidden to gather flowers)