| Eldgarnsö Nature Reserve | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Location within
Stockholm County | |
| Location | Sweden |
| Nearest city | Ekerö |
| Coordinates | 59°26′13″N 17°39′07″E / 59.43694°N 17.65194°E |
| Area | 490 ha (1,200 acres) [1] |
| Established | 1979 [1] |
Eldgarnsö Nature Reserve ( Swedish: Eldgarnsö naturreservat) is a nature reserve in Stockholm County in Sweden.
Eldgarnsö Nature Reserve consists of Eldgarnsö island in Lake Mälaren. A 6-kilometre-long (3.7 mi) trail runs around the island. The nature reserve consists of on the one hand an area of broad-leaf forest, and on the other of an area which is more mixed, containing arable land, coniferous forest and beach meadows with shallow water overgrown with reeds. [1]
Flora
The broad-leaf forest is dominated by oak, European ash and wych elm. Mistletoe grows among the trees; this parasite is uncommon in Sweden (and hence a protected species) due to the cool climate, but survives in local areas of warmer micro-climate such as Eldgarnsö island. In the open meadows, solitary oak trees rise above stands of unspotted lungwort, Cardamine bulbifera, spring vetchling and black pea. [1]
Fauna
The island has a rich bird-life. Species include the European honey buzzard, Eurasian wryneck and ortolan bunting. The nature reserve also supports a rich variety of insects. [1]