White sand and pine forest

Sand dunes, pine forest and beaches

The seashore is a harsh environment for plants and animals, with salt spray, floods and strong winds. A few plants thrive here, including sandwort, saltwort and sodawort. Within the five kilometer long beach you will encounter sparse and low-growing forest. Here gnarled pines grow mixed with deciduous forest. Lichens and mosses thrive in the lean and nutrient-poor soil, as do blackberry and elder bushes. North of the roaming area, living sand dunes dominate. Vegetation does not bind the sand, which therefore moves freely under the influence of the wind and constantly changes the landscape. To the south, a more species-rich sandy grassland spreads out and here the mountain thyme, meadow violet and heather flowers bloom.

Bike only on the Sydostleden

Feel free to bike on the Sydostleden, which passes through the area from Simrishamn in the south and Växjö in the north. Never bike outside this trail as the ground is sensitive in this nature reserve. The part through Friseboda goes on old dirt roads. Park the bike and discover the beautiful nature on foot.

The dunes were formed 13,000 years ago

Friseboda nature reserve rests on Kristianstadslätten's flat bedrock that was formed over 100 million years ago when the Cretaceous Sea covered the area. When the last ice age melted about 13,000 years ago, the meltwater left mighty blankets of sand and gravel. Loose layers of soil, mainly moraine, were later collected on the bedrock. Ocean waves carried sand that was left behind as a mighty seawall. When the sand dried, the wind carried it inland where dunes formed.

Resting place for migratory birds

In Friseboda, a number of birds rest during the spring and autumn stretch, including crane, pied piper, loon, dove, eider, alfalfa and blackbird. Kentish tern is something of a character bird in Friseboda. It winters in West Africa, but comes to Sweden as early as April and does not leave again until September. Tree larks, pea warblers, leaf warblers, southern spruce warblers and tree creepers thrive in the forest.

Finds from the Stone Age

Archaeological finds testify that the area has been inhabited for at least 7,000 years. Six settlements from the Stone Age have been found within the roaming area. The Perstorpsboplatsen is the largest and most rich in resources, while Lindormabacken is the most famous. The finds from the settlements consist of arrowheads, shavings, scrapers and axes.

Desirable oak forest and then pine

In the 17th century, the area was covered by oak forest. The demand for wood for warships and later for the Alunbruket on Christinehof's estate went down hard with sand escape as a result. Under the dunes are the ruins of the four homesteads that were here in the late 17th century and were buried by the drifting sand. In the 19th century, they managed to bind the sand by planting pine trees.

The Åland coast with the old Stockholmsboden

The coast between Kivik and Åhus is characterized by the fishing that has been carried out here since the Stone Age. Preserved eel huts bear witness to centuries of eel fishing in the area. Here the fishing teams could settle during the season. The sheds were often built with one gable facing the sea, the other sunk into the embankment. Several eel huts are scattered along Friseboda's beach and it is also possible to find the foundation walls of older huts. The old Stockholmsboden is the oldest and perhaps the finest, and the Frisebodaboden has been decorated with wreckage washed ashore.

Sea-migrating trout

Sea-migrating trout are found all along the Scanian coast, where they go up into the rivers to spawn. In Segesholmsån in Friseboda, it is a characteristic fish. Segesholmsån flows into Linderödsåsen. During its course, it is affected by a rather heavy supply of nutrient salts and has been straightened in many places. The bottoms of the river are partly exposed to siltation. Nevertheless, the spawning trout and a stock of stationary trout are the dominant fish species in the river. There are also pelvic neon eyes.

Nature type that requires restoration

The sand lands in Friseboda constitute a unique type of nature, and to preserve its character, various nature conservation measures are regularly carried out. During 2013-2018, the foundation has worked on a project together with the County Board to restore valuable sandy lands. By digging up sandbars, burning away ground vegetation such as heather and thinning out the pine forest, we have benefited rare species such as field lark, sand lizard, black-spotted bluewing and a number of other species. At the same time, old broad-crowned pines and oaks get more growing room. In this way, biological diversity can be preserved and developed while protecting people's recreation and outdoor life. Read more about SandLife.