Lillehem

Lillehem Nature Reserve

The rare sand steppe habitat is found on the slopes of Äskebjär, in the southern part of the reserve. Sand steppe plants require particular conditions to survive. These conditions are that new chalk-rich sand is forced up to the surface and that the vegetation does not become too dense – both of which the hooves of the grazing animals and regular burning help with.

Plants such Anthericum liliago and Koeleria glauca thrive in the chalky sandy soils and many rare insects can easily dig their nests where the warm, sand lies bare.

The rich fen adjacent to the River Julebodaån shimmers pink when thousands of bird’s eye primroses flower in the spring. Rare small snails such as geyer’s whorl snail live in the chalk-rich, damp environment of the fen.

The exotic golden oriole bird is found in the dense crowns of the broadleaved trees. It can be difficult to spot, but on beautiful summer mornings at the turn of the month between May and June, you can hear the males’ fluting whistle.

Our forefathers also appreciated the beauty of Äskebjär – on the crest of the hill there is a Bronze Age grave which watches over the surroundings. The light, sandy soil was easily cultivated and has been used for pastures and temporary fields for many hundreds of years.

Regulations for Lillehem visitors

Within Lillehem Nature Reserve it is forbidden to:

• remove, dig, bore, paint or in any other way damage the ground, stones or natural objects,
• camp or park caravans, campers or similar overnight
• light fires other than in designated places,
• during the period 1 April to 30 November ride or lead horses
• cycle other than on roads
• deliberately disturb grazing animals
• bring dogs or other pets unless on a physical leash
• pick, dig up or in any other way damage plants, mosses, lichens and wood-living fungi
• park outside designated parking areas
• introduce or release species alien to the reserve

Furthermore, without written permission from the County Administrative Board, it is forbidden to:

• hold or organise competitions or similar events,
• catch insects, spiders, gastropods or other invertebrate animals other than by netting, hand picking or other selective method which does not destroy their habitat, with subsequent reintroduction within the nature reserve. The requirement for reintroduction does not apply to individual voucher specimens of species which are difficult to identify, on condition that the record is logged in the reporting system Artportalen, or an equivalent national database for threatened species, and that the collection is not contrary to the species protection regulations,