Träskvidar, Naturreservat

The coniferous forests of Träskvidar spread along the western side of Fardumeträsk. Träskvidar means the forest by the lake. In the old forest, trees and fungi have had time to create a common underground network. If you visit the reserve in late summer or fall, you may see several rare fungi.

The pines and junipers on the higher alvars give way to a more vegetative forest with more spruce on the slope down to the lake. The forest hides rauks and cliff edges, and it is also here, in the moist environment with moving groundwater, that we find the unusual mushrooms blue sponge and black-green spindle. These fungi live in association with pine and spruce and are entirely dependent on the land being continuously forested. They get their nutrition by being linked to the roots of the trees in so-called mycorrhiza. The trees, in turn, are helped by the fungus to absorb water and nutrients.

If we walk south on one of the older farm roads, we soon come to a beautiful oak grove located right next to Hellvi church. The old oaks have imaginative shapes, and their rough bark is home to many different types of lichen. For example, the unusual blue straw lichen has been found here. There are also ash trees and hazel bouquets. It is here in Bånghagen that Bångån begins, with water flowing in from Fardumeträsk for further transportation of the water out to the Baltic Sea.

The shoreline along Fardumeträsk is indented with many bays and islets and offers shelter and habitat for many birds. Overall, Träskvidar with its various environments is considered to be of great value for biodiversity.