UNHIDE Agroforestry - A Knowledge Exchange Latvia- Sweden 2023-25 - Report - Page 28
Österlen’s arboretum: Edible landscape, Sweden
The entrance to the arboretum might be a little difficult to find, “hidden in plain
sight”, beyond the entrance of the famous Kivik Esperöd’s Arboretum, established
in 1922.
ÖSTERLEN’S ARBORETUM is located by the
Baltic Sea in Kivik, neighbouring the scenic Stenshuvud Nature Reserve. The four-hectare site is
owned by SLU (Swedish University of Agricultural
Sciences) and managed and developed by members of the non-profit Österlens Arboretum Association. Since 2007, more than 1,000 rhododendron
seedlings, along with seedlings of numerous other
non-native trees and shrubs, have been planted to
explore which species are able to establish under
the region’s mild coastal climate and, in the long
term, contribute new and promising plant material
for southern Sweden.
In spring, the lower parts of the arboretum are
covered by an extensive carpet of ramson. Large
oaks and beeches scattered across the site testify
to its former use as pastureland. In the neighbouring Kivik–Esperöd Arboretum, a European oak
(Quercus robur) is estimated to be approximately
1,000 years old, underscoring the long ecological
continuity of the area.
An ongoing experiment led by one of the caretakers, Leo Sjöstrand—who also guided us during the
visit—involves planting grafted walnut trees and
Sid 43-44
direct seeding of black walnut (Juglans nigra),
following selective thinning of birch and other
competing vegetation. The cultivars planted on
the slopes since 2023–2024 include Buccaneer,
Broadview, Franquette, Lange van Lod, Maras 12,
Solize and 139.
Interestingly, walnut trees appear to prefer ecological conditions similar to those of ash. Making use
of the sunlit gaps created by fallen ash trees thus
represents a creative and site-adapted approach
to assisted migration.
“My idea is to let Juglans nigra fill the niche previously occupied by ash (Fraxinus excelsior) as the
ash trees die from ash dieback, by directly sowing
large quantities of black walnut where light gaps
appear in the canopy when the ash trees fall. In
the long term, this could lead to very interesting
hybrids between Juglans nigra and the grafted
varieties of Juglans regia that we have planted
here—perhaps similar to Dooley’s hybrid, which
produces nuts resembling Persian (English) walnuts, but with the growth habit, appearance and
hardiness of black walnut,” Leo explains.
