Misterfalls Askäng
The meadow is a living formemory with an amazing wealth of plants.
Misterfall's ash meadow is a living ancient memory. The meadow has probably been battered with scythe ever since the first farmers settled here, probably in the early Middle Ages.
Thanks to the traditional care, the meadow has an amazing wealth of plants, but also insects such as butterflies.
The meadow is characterized above all by the many hammered boxes. When hammering, the branches are cut and the leafed twigs are tied to sheaves that are hung to dry. Leaves used to be an important addition to hay as winter fodder for the animals.
By regular hammering every few years, the trees were kept low and easily accessible, while they did not shade the meadow too much.
It was not until the 19th century that animal feed began on arable land. Before that, all the hay was taken on meadows. The hay harvest removes nutrients from the meadow every year, so the yield is not so high by modern standards, but the species richness becomes all the greater.
No other Swedish natural type can contain so many vascular plants per square meter.
In Misterfall you will find, among other things, cowslip, pig root, red clover, snake root, daisies, green-white and night violet. The richness of plants, in turn, is the basis for an even greater diversity of insects. The meadow was used through traditional mowing into the 1950s. After some time as pasture, the haymaking resumed in 1976.
Today, the meadow was run by non-profit forces.
In the spring, the meadow is cleaned from leaves and twigs to facilitate the mowing, which takes place in mid-July.
The hammering of the boxes takes place in August.
For a period after the haymaking, the meadow is grazed by cattle.
Information
Opening hours:
Available all year round.
Contact
Phone:
County Administrative Board +4610-223 50 00
Kinda Tourist Office +46494-194 10
E-mail:
turistbyran@kinda.se
Visiting address:
Misterfalls Askäng