Bjärnum, Naturreservat

Bjärnum Nature Reserve is a popular hiking area between the community of Bjärnum and Lake Bjärlången. Hiking trails lead the way in this hilly forest area, known for its rich lichen flora. Start from the large parking lot at Bjärnum Museum and Homestead Park. Perhaps finish with a cooling dip at the bathing area just north of the reserve?

Deciduous forest

Forest with fossil farmland

The site has been inhabited and used by people for a very long time. In today's forest there are two areas of fossil arable land. This was previously open land where older generations of farmers cleared away stones for cultivation. The larger field area has 75 such small stone piles, clearing cairns, and is located southeast of the homestead. The smaller area is located north of the homestead and has about 40 cairns. In the reserve there is also a sacrificial stone, a stone block with small round pits. These pits are called bowl pits or fairy mills. In these, ancient locals sacrificed small items or fat to appease the gods.

View from a goat's back

In the eastern part of Bjärnum Nature Reserve there is a very fine and distinctive pebble ridge. The ridge was deposited in connection with melting during the last ice age. A ridge with this type of steep crest is often called a knee ridge, a goat ridge or a goat ridge saddle. From the crest you can see Bjärlången's water flash.

Old forest with dead wood

The broadleaf forest spreads out in the area and the oldest trees are up to 200 years old. Beech is the most common tree species, but there are also oak, spruce, pine, birch and several other deciduous trees. The age and size of the trees vary, and the amount of dead wood is increasing. The dead wood, both lying logs and standing stumps, is full of life and a basis for living forests with great diversity.

Soft moss cover and rare lichens

The lichen flora is particularly rich, with many exclusive species, including sawfly lichen, small noble lichen, monastery lichen, pale crater lichen, pink lichen, noble crown lichen and elm lichen. Among the more common but still rare lichens are orange-powdered scribble lichen, beech spring lichen, beech edge lichen and lung lichen. Many tree trunks in the area are also covered with barnacle lichen, shiny spot and flat feather moss, species that signal high natural values. Other unusual mosses in Bjärnum Nature Reserve include the trap moss, scaly felt moss, golden curl moss, rock fennel lichen and blunt feather moss. In places, the ground is covered by soft moss covers with house moss, wall moss, cypress braid, forest bear moss and large broom moss.

Coral sponge and crow's claw

Unusual fungi that you can see in Bjärnum's forests are the southern mushroom, the coral sponge and the mountain mushroom. Among the birds, you will find species such as the skylark, green warbler, blackcap, tree creeper and nuthatch. In the vicinity of the lake, there is a rich vegetation with species such as oxeye daisy, bunchgrass, bladderwrack, beach heather and crow's claw.

Outdoor life

Bjärnum Nature Reserve is a popular visitor and outdoor area on the outskirts of Bjärnum. Hiking trails take you through the reserve's hilly broadleaf forests and along one of the trails there are benches exposed. From a goat ridge in the east, you can see the water mirror of Bjärlången. Just north of the reserve there is a swimming area for those who feel like a dip. There is a large parking lot to the west at the adjacent Bjärnum museum, homestead and homestead park. Hässleholm municipality is responsible for the maintenance of the outdoor facilities in the area.