Outings guide to 10 protected natural areas in Stockholm County Outings Guide to 10 Protected Natural Areas in Stockholm County Editors: Eva Sandberg and Björn Carlberg Translation: Sea Otter Productions Graphic design: Grön idé AB Maps: Jesper Sannel. Copyright 2005 Länsstyrelsen i Stockholms län och Lantmäteriet 2005. Based on maps of Swedish National Land Survey and Geografiska Sverigedata 106-2004/188-AB Cover photos: Bengt Ekman/N (kestrel), Miriam Klyvare (child), Per Bengtson/Grön idé (oxeye daisy). The stylized six-point star is a symbol for protected natural areas in Sweden. Inside cover, background photo: Göran Sehlstedt Photo credits: Bengt Hedberg, pp. 1; Per Bengtson/Grön idé, 2, 7, 8, 12, 20, 30, 31; Magnus Sannebro, 4, 27; Folke Hårrskog/N, 5; Rikard Dahlén, 10; Björn Carlberg, 6; Ola Jennesten/N, 9, 22, 25; Lars Nyberg, 13, 28; Göran Sehlstedt, 16, 21; Jonas Forsberg/N, 18; Länsstyrelsen, 19; Claes Andrén, 32; Britt Forsén, 22 (top); Henrik Ekman/N, 24. Aerial photos approved for publication by Swedish Ministry of Defence. Printing: 30 000 copies, Elanders Gummessons, 2005 Environmentally certified paper and printing 341 279 ISBN 91-7281-174-9 Foreword The natural environment of Stockholm County is wonderfully diverse and accessible. It is a great treasure at the disposal of those who live in or visit the capital region, with many different types of natural setting – everything from the rugged island of Bullerö in the outer archipelago that stretches eastward into the Baltic Sea, to sun-dappled broad-leaved woods along the shores of Lake Mälaren to the west. Consider the agricultural landscape at Angarn in Vallentuna which has been farmed for a thousand years, and the broad expanse of virgin forest at Tyresta in the Södertörn area – a wilderness area just twenty kilo- metres from the centre of Stockholm city. The county’s varied terrain has given rise to an unusually great diversity of habitats and species. Crane. The areas described in this guide are legally protected as nature reser- ves or national parks and comprise a vital part of our common heritage that we may all visit and appreciate. Contained in these pages is all the information needed by visitors and county residents to discover and explore some of our finest natural settings. In short, right next door to Sweden's largest city is a fantastic variety of natu- ral and historical landscapes that are accessible to everyone by foot, bicycle or public transport. During the next ten years, a large number of greenbelt areas in the Stockholm region will be protected through a doubling of the total area of nature reserves. That will be an important step toward preservation of the capi- tal region's finest natural assets for future generations. Welcome to our great outdoors! Mats Hellström County Governor of Stockholm outings guide to 10 protected natural areas in stockholm county 1 Welcome to some of Stockholm County’s finest natural areas! 1.Riddersholm – a large and varied natu- 6. Tyresta – wilderness area just twenty ral area by the Åland Sea . 4 kilometres from the centre of Stockholm city, and a national park surrounded by pasqueflower 2. Ängsö – one of Sweden's oldest national nature reserves . 16 parks, with flowering hay meadows and a rich bird life. 6 7. Sandemar – manorial coastal landscape with rich birdlife and broad shoreline 3. Angarnssjöängen – one of the Stock- meadows. 18 holm area's finest bird lakes, surrounded by an open agricultural landscape . 8 8. Björnö – attractive island in the Stock- holm Archipelago, accessible even without a 4. Norra Järvafältet – small-scale boat . 20 farm landscape with winding gravel roads, grazing land and rich plant and animal life 9. Utö – island with lime-rich bedrock, . 10 profuse vegetation, an old iron mine and excellent visitor services . 22 5. Djurgården-Brunnsviken-Haga- Ulriksdal National Urban Park – a 10. Tullgarn – varied natural area with stone's throw from the centre of Stockholm royal castle on the border between Stock- city, with a unique mixture of historical holm and Södermanland counties . 24 buildings, parkland and natural areas. 12 IMPORTANT— PLEASE NOTE All of the areas presented in this guide are legally protected as • In some areas, farming and other activities are being either nature reserves or national parks. Special regulations conducted by landowners and others. Please keep in mind apply, including: that you are a visitor, and show proper consideration. • Dogs must be kept on leashes. Be especially careful with dogs when visiting areas where grazing animals are roaming Each area has its own set of nature conservation regulations. freely. They are displayed at each location, and may also be read on the • Fires are permitted only at designated places. web site of the Stockholm County Administrative Board: • Some areas include bird sanctuaries to which no entry is www.ab.lst.se permitted during certain periods, most often spring and early summer. These restrictions must be respected. outings guide to 10 protected natural areas in stockholm county 2 outings guide to 10 protected natural areas in stockholm county 3 1. Riddersholm Riddersholm is a large nature reserve near Kapellskär, an important harbour east of Norrtälje. It is set in a landscape of great variation, with forests, cropland, grazing areas, good bathing areas and beauti- ful views over the Åland Sea. Cowslip grows abundantly at Kvarnbacken in May. ust inside the parking area at the but they were all burned down by Russian entrance to the nature reserve is Kvarn- troops in 1719. The manor house was built Jbacken, a birch grove where in mid-May the following year in Östersidö, with a long the ground is covered with the yellow blos- tree-lined walk to Norrsundet Pond which soms of cowslip. For centuries, Kvarnback- at that time was an inlet. The manor is still en was a meadow where hay and leaves were privately owned, and off-limits to visitors. gathered as winter fodder for livestock. To the south, the birch grove opens on an open Kvarnudden pasture where bloody crane's-bill and One of the area’s finest attractions is Kvarn- meadow saxifrage grow amidst blue moor- udden, the strip of land that separates grass that thrives in the lime-rich soil. Norrsundet Pond from Södersundet Inlet. Located beside Kvarnbacken are Kapell- There are remains of terraces and building skär Youth Hostel and Riddersholm Manor. foundations on Kvarnudden, named after The area has been inhabited and farmed at the windmill (kvarn) which long ago was least since the Middle Ages, when there moved to Kvarnbacken. In spring, before were two villages here, Västersidö and the leaves have completely unfolded and Östersidö. At the start of the 18th century, sunlight still reaches the ground, Kvarn- the villages included a total of eleven farms; udden is carpeted white with wood anemones. outings guide to 10 protected natural areas in stockholm county 4 Growing in abundance along the path to the BASIC FACTS shore of Södersundet is dog’s mercury, Riddersholm is located just west of Kapellskär in the Muni- which is depicted on the Swedish 100- cipality of Norrtälje. The nature reserve was established in kronor note. Also growing here is early- 1998 and contains 350 hectares. Also located here is a purple orchid, one of Sweden’s stateliest youth hostel which is open year-round; the telephone orchids. number is 0176-441 69. Next to the reserve is a camp- There is a rich birdlife, including a large ground with cabins for hire, showers, sauna, kiosk, recep- tion and information desk; telephone 0176-442 33. There is colony of great crested grebes that nests on a guest harbour for around forty boats on Södersundet Inlet. Södersundet. Where the path divides, the Several hiking trails and paths, totalling fifteen kilometres in left fork leads via a boardwalk to a large area length, course through the area. The nature reserve is of shoreline pastures that are still grazed. owned and managed by Skärgårdsstiftelsen (The Archipe- Among the plants growing here are seaside lago Foundation), tel. 08–440 56 00. Internet: www.skargardsstiftelsen.se. centaury, bird’s-eye primrose and common butterwort. ROUTE DESCRIPTION From Stockholm, take bus 676 from Rich fen with many species “Tekniska Högskolan” to Norrtälje. At Gunnarsmaren, a lime-rich fen in the south- the Norrtälje terminal, change to bus 631 toward Kapellskär and get off at the ern wood, has many unusual species and is “Riddersholms gård” stop. Summer alternative: worth a visit by the botanically interested. Ferries leave from Strömskajen near the Grand There are around seventy species of grass Hotel in central Stockholm; for schedule information, and wildflower in the fen, including dwarf ring Waxholmsbolaget at 08-679 58 30. fen in Riddersholm's rich Common butterwort grows milkwort, common butterwort, early By car: From Norrtälje, follow highway E18 to Kapell- skär. Just short of Kapellskär harbour, there is a sign to marsh-orchid, narrow-leaved marsh-orchid, the right pointing the way to the nature reserve. marsh helleborine and bog orchid. outings guide to 10 protected natural areas in stockholm county 2. Ängsö On Ängsö Island, visitors can experience a traditional farm landscape in the Stockholm Archipelago. Ängsö became a national park in 1909 and is one of the oldest in Sweden. The island is located in a famous part of the Stockholm Archi- pelago known as Roslagen. The park was established in order to preserve a beautiful example of a traditional farm landscape, with flowering hay meadows and wooded pastures. he island is not very large, but it name – Ängsö means “Meadow Island”. contains most elements of Rosla- After the hay was hung on racks to dry, farm Tgen’s natural and human history.