Forest and lake in Svedala – sustainable nature experiences for a lifetime! 2023-2939

About the project

In Svedala municipality, there is a lot of beautiful nature. The visitor pressure in natural areas here has been particularly high during and after the pandemic. To meet this need, the municipality has worked out a recreation and outdoor life plan in dialogue with landowners, interest groups, associations, and the youth council during 2022-2023, and these collaborations will continue during implementation and in operation. The focus has been on areas close to urban centers or public transport that can be reached in a climate-smart way, as well as contributing to better public health. The goal of the project is to create new destinations/meeting places through increased accessibility, service, and information, as well as to maintain a good standard of nature and culture destinations in order to protect natural values and create sustainable (environmental, social, and economic) stays in nature for visitors, both local, national, and international. The areas selected are often visited by tourists from other parts of Sweden and Europe.

The measures proposed in the project are:

• Bökeberg/Fortunaskogen with measures for improved accessibility and service, parking, paths, signs, barbecue areas, and waste bins.
• Innovative activity box (explained further down in the application) at Pudesjö bathing area. 
• Minor measures to improve the experience of the destination at existing cultural and nature destinations where there is a need, such as signs, benches, and supports.
• Information efforts about the right of public access, forest care, and various ”pearls” for recreation in the municipality. See a more detailed description in the activity plan. After implementation, the municipality intends to manage the operation of the destinations.

The purpose of the measures is to secure access to recreation and outdoor life for visitors, both local, national, and international. The areas selected are often visited by tourists from other parts of Sweden and Europe. Increased accessibility and service can therefore increase the number of visitors and strengthen both Svedala and the Leader area as a destination, as well as benefit the tourism-related businesses in the area. An important part is also to communicate with landowners, interest organizations, citizens, and visitors. In Sweden, we have great opportunities to engage in outdoor life through the right of public access, which allows us to walk almost everywhere in nature and on others' land as long as we do not disturb or destroy. In relatively densely populated areas like Svedala, however, problems can arise with, for example, wear and littering when many people want to move in the same place in nature. To avoid damage to nature and negative impacts on the landowner's interests, the municipality wants to help channel visitors, inform about, for example, the right of public access and forest care, and manage nuisances such as littering. Requests for these measures have been made by both the landowner and the municipality's residents for many years.