Dalby Söderskog National Park

About this place

Dalby Söderskog, «Dalby south forest», is a small national park in the province of Scania in southern Sweden, in Lund Municipality near the village of Dalby, about 9 km in a straight line east of the city of Lund. It covers 0.36 square kilometres of broadleaf forest. The park was established in 1918, when it was thought to be a unique remnant of primeval forest; in fact the area had once been used as pasture. The soil holds a great deal of limestone and chalk, which makes the flora rich, especially in spring flowers. An earth bank of unknown origin, possibly the remains of an ancient fort, surrounds parts of the park, which covers the southern part of Dalby hage, while the northern parts form a nature reserve. In early spring the forest floor turns into a white carpet of wood anemones before the trees come into leaf, and then the whole wood turns green with its huge broadleaf trees. A wooden boardwalk winds between the trees, moss-covered fallen trunks lie scattered about, a small stream runs over the stones, and in autumn the leaves turn copper and gold. Visiting is free and the trail is short and easy. April and early May are the loveliest for spring flowers, and the ground is muddy after rain, so wear suitable shoes.