Natural landscapes in Mjölby Municipality

Around 9000-10,000 years ago, not long after the ice sheets covering Sweden receded, the fi rst people came to the plains of western Östergöt-land. At that time, the plains were characterised by marshlands and deciduous forests, and people were drawn here by the good conditions for fi sh-ing and hunting. The fi rst farmers set to work on the land around 6000 years ago. Since then the meadows have spread out and the wetlands have been drained.

The landscape in the southern parts of Mjöl-by Municipality is better suited to forestry than to agriculture. Rocky outcrops pierce the surface of the thin soil here and there. Marsh forests and bogs are alternate with large areas of coniferous woodland.

The central part of the municipality is a place of transition, between the pine forests in the south and the open plains in the north. The landscape here varies between mixed woodland, meadows and grazing land. Most of the lakes in the munici-pality are situated in the central belt. Ice marginal deposits form a line that crosses the municipality on the edge of the plains. These deposits have given rise to unusual natural phenomena here in Mjölby.

The ice marginal deposits were created as the last inland ice sheets melted, around 12,500years ago. When the edge of the ice was level with

Treasures of Naturein Mjölby Municipality

www.mjolby.se

A guide to the landscape of the area is available at www.mjolby.se

or you can buy it in book format at the Tourist Information Offi ce,

the Library or the Environmental Offi ce.All proceeds from the book go straight back into environmental

protection in the municipality.

Mjölby, the climate became colder and the mel-ting process was suspended for around 600 years. During this period, moraines and large deposits of material from the glacial ice were deposited along the edge of the ice. The material created four major moraine zones in the municipality: Ljungstorpsfäl-tet, Ljunafältet, Mjölbyfältet, and Mantorpfältet.

Ridges, kettle holes, outwash plains and del-tas are some of the legacies left by the ice that formed the landscape in these areas. The lime-rich soil has created a unique and diverse mix of na-tural environments, such as calcareous fens and steppe meadows. The wetlands of these moraine zones have become calcareous fens, while the steppe meadows are extremely dry. The marshes and meadows that have been used for grazing are now home to a magnifi cent array of fl owers. Or-chids are among the rare species growing in the calcareous fens, while the steppe meadows are home to plants usually only found on the steppes of Asia and continental Europe.

The River Svartån fl ows like a life-giving ar-tery from Hulterstad through the town of Mjölby and to the north east, through the dry plains. Ever since the fi rst people settled in this area, the ri-ver has been a source of food, work, and joy. This is still the case today. In the spring, a plethora of birds nest on the grazing land by the Svartån, and even in the town centre you can enjoy the leafy banks of the river. In places the Svartån fl ows wide, peaceful and slow while at other points it gushes forth in rapids and waterfalls.

This brochure and the book were partly funded by the national environmental protection budget and Östsam.Produced by: Environmental Offi ce, Mjölby Municipality, 2006Project Manager: Gunnar MyrhedeText, photos and map: Lisa JohanssonLayout: Lennart Ljungh, ElandersPrinting: ElandersPrint run: 20 000

Skogssjö

Solberga

Stämma

Tåkern

Åsabackarna

Örbacken

Nature reserves in Mjölby Municipality

The Skogssjö area is a popular recreational area.There is ample opportunity for bathing, campingand �shing. The glacial formations are imposing,and a network of tall and steep ridges provide achallenge for jogging.On the Pilosaåsen ridge, you can �nd the very rare woolly milk-vetch, Oxytropis pilosa.

The Svartån river �ows through Solberga's lush,beautiful oak meadows. On the grand old oaks,a complete biosystem of small organisms thrive.An old oak can be host to up to 1,000 di�erentspecies. On the oaks of Solberga you can �nd therare large hermit beetle, Osmoderma eremita.

During centuries, the lands of Stämma have been shaped by the agriculture and grazing herds of our ancestors.In spring, the cuckoo calls, and between rocks and tall junipers, the meadows are coloured by cowslip, saxifrage, catsfoot and blue violet.

Lake Tåkern is regarded as the foremost bird lake in Nothern Europe. During the years, over 270 species have been spotted here. At the four visiting areas Glänås, Väversunda, Hov and Svälinge, there are bird watching towers, information, picnic areas and outside lavatories. Here you can come very close to the birds and the �owering lakeside meadows.

At Örbacken, clear and lime-rich water �ows in small brooks, and form a valuable calcareous fen. The �owers are magni�cent from May until July. You can spot a large number of beautiful and unusual orchids and other rare plants.

At the Åsabackarna hills, the Ice Age glaciation formed the landscape with impressive ridges, moraine slopes and kettle holes.The grazed hills have a very rich and unique �ora.In the northern part of the reserve, the forest closes up, and where springs run with lime-rich water, amazing calcareous fens have formed.

Natural landscapes in Mjölby Municipality

Around 9000-10,000 years ago, not long after the ice sheets covering Sweden receded, the fi rst people came to the plains of western Östergöt-land. At that time, the plains were characterised by marshlands and deciduous forests, and people were drawn here by the good conditions for fi sh-ing and hunting. The fi rst farmers set to work on the land around 6000 years ago. Since then the meadows have spread out and the wetlands have been drained.

The landscape in the southern parts of Mjöl-by Municipality is better suited to forestry than to agriculture. Rocky outcrops pierce the surface of the thin soil here and there. Marsh forests and bogs are alternate with large areas of coniferous woodland.

The central part of the municipality is a place of transition, between the pine forests in the south and the open plains in the north. The landscape here varies between mixed woodland, meadows and grazing land. Most of the lakes in the munici-pality are situated in the central belt. Ice marginal deposits form a line that crosses the municipality on the edge of the plains. These deposits have given rise to unusual natural phenomena here in Mjölby.

The ice marginal deposits were created as the last inland ice sheets melted, around 12,500years ago. When the edge of the ice was level with

Treasures of Naturein Mjölby Municipality

www.mjolby.se

A guide to the landscape of the area is available at www.mjolby.se

or you can buy it in book format at the Tourist Information Offi ce,

the Library or the Environmental Offi ce.All proceeds from the book go straight back into environmental

protection in the municipality.

Mjölby, the climate became colder and the mel-ting process was suspended for around 600 years. During this period, moraines and large deposits of material from the glacial ice were deposited along the edge of the ice. The material created four major moraine zones in the municipality: Ljungstorpsfäl-tet, Ljunafältet, Mjölbyfältet, and Mantorpfältet.

Ridges, kettle holes, outwash plains and del-tas are some of the legacies left by the ice that formed the landscape in these areas. The lime-rich soil has created a unique and diverse mix of na-tural environments, such as calcareous fens and steppe meadows. The wetlands of these moraine zones have become calcareous fens, while the steppe meadows are extremely dry. The marshes and meadows that have been used for grazing are now home to a magnifi cent array of fl owers. Or-chids are among the rare species growing in the calcareous fens, while the steppe meadows are home to plants usually only found on the steppes of Asia and continental Europe.

The River Svartån fl ows like a life-giving ar-tery from Hulterstad through the town of Mjölby and to the north east, through the dry plains. Ever since the fi rst people settled in this area, the ri-ver has been a source of food, work, and joy. This is still the case today. In the spring, a plethora of birds nest on the grazing land by the Svartån, and even in the town centre you can enjoy the leafy banks of the river. In places the Svartån fl ows wide, peaceful and slow while at other points it gushes forth in rapids and waterfalls.

This brochure and the book were partly funded by the national environmental protection budget and Östsam.Produced by: Environmental Offi ce, Mjölby Municipality, 2006Project Manager: Gunnar MyrhedeText, photos and map: Lisa JohanssonLayout: Lennart Ljungh, ElandersPrinting: ElandersPrint run: 20 000

Skogssjö

Solberga

Stämma

Tåkern

Åsabackarna

Örbacken

Nature reserves in Mjölby Municipality

The Skogssjö area is a popular recreational area.There is ample opportunity for bathing, campingand �shing. The glacial formations are imposing,and a network of tall and steep ridges provide achallenge for jogging.On the Pilosaåsen ridge, you can �nd the very rare woolly milk-vetch, Oxytropis pilosa.

The Svartån river �ows through Solberga's lush,beautiful oak meadows. On the grand old oaks,a complete biosystem of small organisms thrive.An old oak can be host to up to 1,000 di�erentspecies. On the oaks of Solberga you can �nd therare large hermit beetle, Osmoderma eremita.

During centuries, the lands of Stämma have been shaped by the agriculture and grazing herds of our ancestors.In spring, the cuckoo calls, and between rocks and tall junipers, the meadows are coloured by cowslip, saxifrage, catsfoot and blue violet.

Lake Tåkern is regarded as the foremost bird lake in Nothern Europe. During the years, over 270 species have been spotted here. At the four visiting areas Glänås, Väversunda, Hov and Svälinge, there are bird watching towers, information, picnic areas and outside lavatories. Here you can come very close to the birds and the �owering lakeside meadows.

At Örbacken, clear and lime-rich water �ows in small brooks, and form a valuable calcareous fen. The �owers are magni�cent from May until July. You can spot a large number of beautiful and unusual orchids and other rare plants.

At the Åsabackarna hills, the Ice Age glaciation formed the landscape with impressive ridges, moraine slopes and kettle holes.The grazed hills have a very rich and unique �ora.In the northern part of the reserve, the forest closes up, and where springs run with lime-rich water, amazing calcareous fens have formed.

1 Tåkern Nature Reserve 2 Väderstad Local History Museum 3 Åsabackarna Nature Reserve 4 Marstad ängar 5 Vattenverkstan 6 Hospitalsdammen 7 Lunds backe 8 Örbacken Nature Reserve 9 Stenstorpsmyren10 Skogssjöområdet Nature Reserve11 Kungshögarna12 Svartån13 Solberga Nature Reserve

14 Öjebro15 Lillån16 Ekebergs slåtteräng17 Västra Harg18 Svaneholm19 Bo20 Aren21 Saxkärren22 Stämma Nature Reserve23 Haddebo24 Vitgölen25 Ullebergsskogen

Scale 1:100,0001 cm on the map is equivalent to 1 km in reality

Treasures of Naturein Mjölby Municipality

Map based on: GSD Terrain mapPermission of the National Land Survey 1 2005/1680Map produced by Mjölby Municipality, 2005