Mälarhusen

Welcome to Mälarhusen Nature Reserve

Mälarhusen Nature Reserve borders on the significantly larger Sandhammaren Nature Reserve. Together, the reserves protect wooded sand dunes with sunlit glades.

It is said that king Karl XI in the 17th century ordered the last areas of the original oak forest to be cut down. The result was an open, grazed coastal heath landscape. But as the population grew, so did the number of animals. Too much trampling and grazing meant that the vegetation disappeared and the sand became exposed. A large-scale project of pine planting began to prevent the sand from reaching the surrounding agricultural landscape.

Here in Mälarhusen, pine dominates the forest, whereas the neighbouring Sandhammaren reserve contains quite a lot of oak. The gnarled, slow-growing oak, is typical for coastal forests.

The area has been allowed to develop freely and today consists of different environments, depending on whether the ground is wet or dry. This variation creates favourable conditions for a rich diversity of plants, animals and fungi.

Regulations

Within Mälarhusen nature reserve it is forbidden to:

• put up notice boards, signs, posters, papers strips, or similar, or make inscriptions. This does not apply to reserve information boards and signs or landmarks,
  
• catch or collect insects or other animals, or in any other way disturb wildlife,
  
• pick, dig up, or in any other way damage vascular plants, mosses or lichens,
  
• fell or in any other way damage living or dead trees or shrubs,
  
• remove wood from the area,
  
• in a disturbing manner use radios, music players, musical instruments, or similar,
  
• drive motorised vehicles,
  
• camp, or park caravans, camper vans, or similar,
  
• ride or drive horses,
  
• light fires,
  
• bring unleashed dogs or other loose pets,
  
• organise competitions that may disturb the natural environment.