Björnholmarna nature reserve

The nature reserve is a coniferous forest-dominated area on the northern outskirts of Alvesta. The reserve consists largely of a wooded bog. The tree layer consists primarily of pine, but birch and spruce also occur. There is plenty of dead wood here in the form of flames and dry bark. The latter are an important substrate for brown-powdered needle lichen and other spike lichens. Many of the trees are late-grown and wrapped in hanging lichens. Adjacent to the pine bog are a couple of mainland islets with stumps and flames in various stages of decomposition. In the southwest there is a small area of deciduous forest, some oaks and a stand of birch forest. On a hill in the northeast there is a group of older wide-crowned oaks.

Large parts of the reserve have a long forest continuity and have not undergone any invasive forestry measures in modern times. Dead wood, in the form of flames in various stages of decomposition, is an important substrate for the signal species wood tick, tick moth, timber tick and other wood fungi. In addition, dead wood is important for a large number of insect species that live in it. Heavily decomposed flames in contact with the ground are covered with liverworts, especially the signal species long-limbed moss. On dry branches and stumps, needle lichens grow, such as brown-powdered needle lichen (NT) and the signal species yellow needle. Coniferous forest tits, such as the pine tit (NT), can find food in trees covered with hanging lichens, and there are opportunities to hack out nest holes in birch stumps. On the mainland hill in the northeast there are several oak trees with the signal species trap moss.

Large parts of the reserve have a long forest continuity and have not undergone any invasive forestry measures in modern times. Dead wood, in the form of flames in various stages of decomposition, is an important substrate for the signal species wood tick, tick moth, timber tick and other wood fungi. In addition, dead wood is important for a large number of insect species that live in it. Heavily decomposed flames in contact with the ground are covered with liverworts, especially the signal species long-limbed moss. On dry branches and stumps, needle lichens grow, such as brown-powdered needle lichen (NT) and the signal species yellow needle. Coniferous forest tits, such as the pine tit (NT), can find food in trees covered with hanging lichens, and there are opportunities to hack out nest holes in birch stumps. On the mainland hill in the northeast there are several oak trees with the signal species trap moss.

The reserve has great social values as an older forest close to urban areas with good opportunities for berry and mushroom picking.