Väsby Hage Naturreservat
Nature reserve near Munsö
The nature reserve Väsby Hage Naturreservat is located near the village Munsö in the north of the island bearing the same name in Lake Mälar, almost 30 kilometers northwest of Ekerö.
The 119-hectare Väsby Hage Naturreservat is located in the northwest of the island on the shore of Svinsundet, the narrow sound between Munsö and the neighbouring island of Adelsö. Apart from a few high rocks on the shore, the area within the nature reserve is flat and consists of a forest area with an elongated old pasture landscape in the center.
This part of the nature reserve has been used as a pasture and hay meadow since the 18th century, creating an open landscape with many large free-standing oaks, juniper and hazelnut bushes and specially adapted ground vegetation. In order to preserve this type of landscape, the largest part is still being used for grazing today, while a smaller part continues to serve as a hay meadow.
On the slightly more humid meadows at the forest edges, purging flax (Linum catharticum) and adder's-tongue (Ophioglossum vulgatum) grow. The sun-drenched dry meadows are home to plants such as willowleaf yellowhead (Pentanema salicinum), tufted milkwort (Polygala comosa) and dropwort (Filipendula vulgaris).
Nice rocks for bathing are located below the cliff Roparhällen (caler cliff), which rises up in the mälaren and is called Roparhällen because the ferry boat from the neighbouring island Adelsö used to be called from there. A little south of the nature reserve, near the pier of the cable ferry to Adelsö, there is the small sandy beach Hässlesandsbadet.
