The forest in Småland’s emigrant district

There was a time when the forest was called “the poor man’s coat”. It protected against the storms, it was used to build houses and it gave wood for the fire. The author Vilhelm Moberg has painted a picture of his native home through The Emigrants’ main characters Karl-Oskar and Kristina, describing how they and many other poor crofters in the 19th century emigrated to America from their wooded districts which we today call Vilhelm Moberg’s Emigrant District. We invite you to wander through beautiful forests, along lakes and brooks, and to experience the exciting emigrant era and the villages and farms which have become part of world literature: Ljuder, Moshult, Långasjö, Duvemåla, Linneryd...

When you enter these forests it seems as if time has stood still, for a long, long time. However, a forest is very much a living environment. Vegetation lives and dies, falls to the ground and decays, and grows again in a continuous cycle. This is also the home of the animals. Enter the forest with respect, and tread carefully among trees, birds, mammals and all the other exciting small creatures that live there.

The storms Gudrun and Per

Hurricane Gudrun was an extreme storm which shook Southern Sweden on 5 January 2005. And on 14 January 2007 the area was hit again – a new hurricane, called Per, caused almost as much damage as Gudrun. 
Hurricane Per felled 12 million cubic metres of forest, compared to Gudrun’s 75 million cubic metres. Damages during both hurricanes were exacerbated by the fact that there was no ground frost. All this has of course had devastating consequences for local forestry.

The forest – a place of work

There is always some work going on somewhere in a forest. During your hike, you may come across a small stretch of the route which has been damaged by one of the heavy forestry machines - this may make it a little more difficult to pass a particular part of the route. We understand and accept this, and we hope you do too. Forestry is an important industry in Sweden.

Signposting along the route

For us who like to hike, wind-fallen trees have resulted in a lighter and more open landscape with more deciduous forest. These new trees, in the form of coppice shoots, grow very quickly (approx. 2 metres per year) – to the annoyance of those responsible for maintaining the route… It is a time-consuming task to keep the hiking trails and paths open, so please have some consideration for those who try to keep up with the ever-growing brushwood. And please make sure to follow the signs, particularly in windfall areas.

The Right of Public Access & duties

Nearly 95% of all forest in Sweden is privately owned, as is all agricultural land. Our trail crosses land which has been maintained by people for many generations and centuries. Sweden’s unique Right of Public Access gives us the opportunity to visit these areas. Please find more information via the link below.

Leave behind only thankfulness – and nothing else – and you are welcome in our forests!