Björnön
Skara
A small island of old-growth forest. Here, you can step into the forest of the trolls, among fallen trees and thick moss carpets. But soon enough, you are back on the other side, in the production forest that surrounds the reserve on all sides.
On the edge of the heavily cultivated Västergötland, few forests have escaped the chainsaw and forestry machines. This makes the Björnön Nature Reserve a unique window into the past. Here, you can get an idea of what the forests looked like a few hundred years ago.
Dead trees are a vital part of the forest. They provide food and shelter for many of the animals and plants of the primeval forest that have become rare today. North of the road in the Björnön Nature Reserve, the forest resembles a giant game of pick-up sticks, with bridges of fallen trees in all directions. Between the thick spruce trees, the ground is a diffuse blur of horsetail and bear moss. But just as you begin to build up the enchantment of the troll forest, it is broken. The reserve is only 6.6 hectares in size, and the northern part is the smallest. South of the road, you can follow a marked trail for a few minutes through drier pine forests. There are not as many fallen trees here, as pine trees tend to survive longer than spruce trees. But eventually, even they will succumb to wood fungi and autumn storms. The oldest trees in the Björnön Nature Reserve are around 170 years old, which is a long way from Sweden's oldest pine trees, which are over 700 years old.
Right of public access
In Sweden, we have the Right of Public Access, which gives us the opportunity to freely enjoy nature. But it is a freedom that comes with responsibility – do not disturb, do not destroy. So show extra consideration for both other visitors and our nature. Read more about what the Right of Public Access is below.