Albrunna lund (grove)
A deciduous forest oasis on the edge of the Great Alvar
As a green oasis between the “Alvar” and arable land lies Albrunna lund (grove). Here you can hide away for a moment from the midday heat outside on the “alvar” and enjoy the rich birdlife and flora.
Broadleaf forest and meadow
Albrunna lund was used formerly as hay land but has also served as pasture for cattle and horses. A portion of the grove is still referred to as “Oxhagen” (ox pasture). The northern grove consists of uneven aged oak and ash forest with elements of field elm, maple and Small-leaved lime. The average age of the forest is about 100 years, but some large oaks are much older. In the north of the grove are two herb-rich hay meadows that are harvested every year. The southern grove consists of a mixed forest with mainly oak and birch. The forest is relatively young, but even here there are elements of large oaks. Forests with tree species composition of oak, ash and elm, as in Albrunna lund, is unusual in Sweden.
Vascular plants
The springtime flora in Albrunna grove is lavishly rich with wood anemone and yellow anemone. In the meadowland in the reserve grows large quantities of spring pheasant’s eye which occurs only here on southern Öland and on Gotland and is a surviving species from the last warm period during the Bronze Age. In the meadows you will find Dropwort and Bloody Crane’s-bill growing
Lichens and fungi
Albrunna lund have a rich life of rare lichens and fungi. It has Bactrospora dryina and Megalaria laureri. Of rare fungi occurs Ramariopsis pulchella, iodine bolete, Green Dapperling and Lactarius mairei.
Birds and Insects
The bird choir is impressive, and from the rich nesting bird fauna, we can mention Garden warbler, Thrush Nightingale and Common Rosefinch. Of the less common species nesting here is Eurasian Wryneck and Red-breasted Flycatcher. In Albrunna lund there is a very rare small butterfly, Scarce Lance-wing, that is linked to hogweed and only known from four sites in Northern Europe, all on the island of Öland.
Bomb shelters
When you walk in Albrunna grove, you’ll will notice a number of bunker-like buildings. It is bomb shelters that were built during World War II. In the grove there is also traces of an old festivity place.
Facts
Size: 36 ha (88,96 acres)
Year of decision: 1996
purpose: To preserve a naturally developing deciduous forest of oak, ash and elm with its fauna and flora, ensure that the meadows with the botanical values persist. The area is part of the EU’s ecological network of protected areas, Natura 2000.
How to get there
The area can be easily reached from County Road 136 in southern Öland and is located about three kilometers south of “Södra Möckleby” church and “Degerhamn”. A parking is available next to the road, immediately south of Albrunna. Additional parking facilities are 250 m further on, to the left towards the grove, follow the local road to the location information.
GPS coordinates to the parking lot, WGS 84 decimal (lat, lon): 56.31786, 16.41065
Map: Naturcentrum AB, Stenungsund.
Download: the County administrative boards brochure over (in Swedish only) (518kB): Albrunna Lund
Download: the entire brochure (in Swedish only) (19MB): Utflyktsguide Öland
© Lantmäteriverket, Ur Geografiska Sverigedata, översiktskartan Dnr. 106-2004/188”
Source: County Administrative Board, Kalmar
Translation: Visitoland.com