Haikkarinniemi Nature Preserve

Haikkarinniemi Nature Preserve, located in Villähde, Lahti, is a diverse forest area bordering Lake Kymijärvi. The nearly 18-hectare preserve includes the peninsula and the nearby Lammassaari island. It's a prime destination for nature lovers, especially in spring when the forest floor is covered in blue anemones and the air is filled with birdsong. The area features lush grove vegetation, with large birches mixed with spruce, bird cherry, rowan, and aspen trees. The shrub layer is dominated by red currant, dogwood, and bird cherry. You'll also find honeysuckle, alder buckthorn and mezereon. The ground layer boasts species such as lily of the valley, wood sorrel, herb-Paris, wood anemone, chickweed wintergreen, woodland strawberry, wood cranesbill, wood violet, wood star, and creeping oxalis. The southern slope of Haikkarinniemi is home to nearly 60 hazel bushes, somewhat stunted due to lack of light. Haikkarinniemi is a haven for birdwatchers, particularly those interested in woodpeckers. It's part of a conservation program for the endangered white-backed woodpecker, and you might also spot lesser spotted and grey-headed woodpeckers. These woodpeckers favor the grove-like coastal forests of Haikkarinniemi, where they find plenty of old decaying deciduous trees for nesting and foraging. In late spring and early summer, the forests echo with the skillful song of the wren, and you might catch a glimpse of the rather rare red-breasted flycatcher and greenish warbler. The proximity to Lake Kymijärvi adds to the area's avian diversity. A lit recreational path crosses the conservation area, making it easily accessible. The forests are managed to maintain a favorable habitat for woodpeckers, ensuring an increasing number of decaying deciduous trees and preventing the overgrowth of spruce.