Kristianstad Vattenriket

Kristianstad sits in a basin below sea level - the lowest point in Sweden is nearby - and the Helge river spreads through it in a system of wet meadows, oxbows, marsh and sandy grassland that was long treated as a problem to be drained. From the 1980s the argument was reversed and the area was managed for what it holds: one of the richest wetland bird faunas in the country, with waders, ducks, cranes, and a remarkable insect list on the sandy ground. UNESCO designated it a biosphere reserve in 2005. The naturum, built on piles over the water at the edge of town, is the entry point, with towers, boardwalks and hides through the reserve.

What you actually see

• Wet meadows along the Helge - once drained, now managed for wildlife.
• A naturum on piles over the water - the entry point in town.
• Waders, ducks and cranes - one of the best wetland faunas in Sweden.
• Sandy grassland - with an unusually rich insect list.

When to go

April to September; spring for breeding waders. Half a day.

Honest expectations

Sites are scattered across a wide area and need transport between them. Meadows flood in spring, closing paths. Mosquitoes are heavy in summer. Bird interest carries much of the appeal.

Nearby

Ahus is on the coast; Backaskog and Ivosjon are north.