Svaneholm Hästhagen

Welcome to Svaneholm-Hästhagen Nature Reserve

Just to the south of Svaneholm Castle, a tree-covered hill juts out from the open pasture. This was previously the estate's horse paddock, but has now been transformed into one of the country's finest meadow beach woodlands. Stately beech trees create a magnificent pillared hall, the floor of which is covered with White Anemones and Woodruff in spring.

A Pillared Hall with Shimmering Light

The hill is dominated by trees that are hundreds of years old. They are predominantly beech, but there is also elm, European Hornbeam, oak and ash. At the top of the hill there is a beautiful pillared hall of beech trees. When the leaves emerge at the end of April or beginning of May, it shimmers with light green light and spring flowers sparkle on the ground.

However, the southern slope with trees of varying ages is more valuable from a biological point of view. Here there is also more dead wood. Out towards the open land there are ancient, wide-crowned trees that extend themselves towards the light.

Fantastic Spring Flora

Hästhagen contains a fantastic flora in spring, with large carpets of White Anemones and Wild Garlic, as well as Holewort and Woodruff. An inventory was taken in 1984–85 which recorded more than 260 different species of plants in the nature reserve, among them Broad-Leaved Helleborine and rare woodland grasses.

The area is a popular destination for people who live in Skurup. For many decades, they have cycled out to Hästhagen to have a breakfast picnic while listening to the dawn chorus of birds and to enjoy the spring flowers.

Svaneholm - the birthplace of modern agriculture

Hästhagen is close to Svaneholm Castle which is most well-known as having been owned by Rutger MacLean. He implemented the revolutionary agricultural reform, called enskiftet in Swedish, on his estate in the 1780s and this had an impact on the entire structure of villages in Sweden. By moving the farmers out to their own independent farms, the old villages were divided up and a new pattern of settlement appeared.

The nature reserve lies in an area that has belonged to Svaneholm Castle for a long time and as long ago as the 18th century there was a wooded area that was utilised as summer pasture by the farm's animals.

Outdoor recreation

There are no trails in Hästhagen Nature Reserve. The Jaktstigen Trail (2.6 km) goes around Lake Svaneholmssjön in Svaneholm Nature Reserve. It is adapted for accessibility and equipped with rest areas, lookout platforms and informational signs. The red loop continues into Vassen Nature Reserve (4.2 km). There are two other loops of just over 2 km in Norrskog Nature Reserve. Fishing enthusiasts can buy a fishing licence and hire a boat.

Regulations

The Right of Public Access is limited in the Nature reserve! The regulations apply for the protection of nature. You'll find a selection of the most important visitor regulations here. They are also posted on a separate sign at each entrance. The full/complete regulations are available in swedish on this web page - below the heading "Föreskrifter / Fullständiga föreskrifter för besökare".

• All dogs must be on a physical lead.
• You are not permitted to ride bicycles here.
• You are not permitted to ride or drive horses in the reserve.