Svartdalens Naturreservat

Svartdalens Naturreservat includes a slightly hilly landscape with an area of more than 42 hectares, covered with a very old coniferous forest, which grows with other plants in different variations depending on the subsoil. While on the higher areas mainly pines grow, the humid depressions and partly swampy areas are the domicile of ancient spruces.

The regions with the spruces also have a rich ground vegetation due to the moist and nutrient-rich ground. Especially in the north-eastern part of the nature reserve there is a fertile valley with relatively high humidity, in which many of the fallen trees are densely covered with moss.

In the summer months some rare flowering plants such as the creeping lady's-tresses (Goodyera repens) or the heath spotted-orchid (Dactylorhiza maculata) grow in the spruce forest. In addition, many fungal species thrive there, such as the Hydnellum suaveolens and the poisonous Lactarius scrobiculatus.

There is a high stock of deadwood in different stages of decomposition in the whole nature reserve, which forms the subsoil for certain other plants, such as the rare green shield-moss (Buxbaumia viridis). Different types of lichens grow on the living old spruces, especially the old wood rimmed lichen (Lecanactis abietina). In other places the trees are draped with the beards of hanging lichens, among them also populations of the rare ring lichen (Evernia divaricata).

The almost untouched forest also has a rich bird population, whose singing, along with the sound of the wind in the mighty treetops, determines the background noise of the forest. Among the typical representatives of the feathered singers in the nature reserve are various species of tits and forest birds such as western capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus), hazel grouse (Tetrastes bonasia) and Eurasian woodcock (Scolopax rusticola).