Albrunna alvar

The largest part of the nature reserve consists of alvar with limestone gravel where wet and damp meadows  are dammed by protruding bedrock plinths. The area borders in the west to the village Albrunna, its arable land and to Albrunna grove. The sharp boundary between alvar and grove is striking. A stone wall separates the two types of ground.

Bulehall is a wide, block-rich ridge that extends in a north-south direction in the western part of Albrunna alvar. Here you will find species characteristic of the alvar's dry grasslands: fältsippa, krutbrännare och alvarmalört.

In the reserve thrives species like älväxing, ängsvädd och blåtåtel. There are also more rare species here. The hairy form of hoary rock-rose (ölandssolvända, endemic on Öland), grows here, as does the rare småtörel. 

At Albrunna alvar there are several ancient remains, including the two stone formations Södra and Norra Vitrör. Adjacent to the damp path in the south are other stone formations. In the large moving block here, several cup marks from broz age have been found. Most other ancient remains are found along the ridge along the western side of the alvar.

Stora Alvaret has been characterized by grazing for several thousand years and the purpose of the nature reserves here is to maintain the unique grazing-dependent cultural landscape, vegetation types that are representative of alvar soil and to benefit both the typical and the rare plant and animal species that live in these environments. The purpose is also to preserve and make visible Stora Alvaret's cultural-historical remains and to facilitate the public's opportunities to experience its natural and cultural values.

Source: County Administrative Board of Kalmar County

Special plants and habitats

Habitats: Water holes, ponds, various serious environments such as gravel lakes and dry meadows.

Special plants (swedish): Timjansnyltrot, småtörel, piggfrö, filthårig ölandssolvända

Maps on the swedish page