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Stockholm's Ecopark

The Ecopark stretches from Fjäderholmarna, a group of islands about five minutes by boat from the city centre, via Djurgården and on to Haga/Brunnsviken and Ulriksdal. Also part of the park are the two city-centre islands, Skeppsholmen and Kastellholmen.

The Ecopark is a synergy of nature and culture featuring royal palaces, historical buildings and unspoiled countryside which is favourable to many plant and animal species.

A decree by the Swedish government gave parts of the Ecopark status as a National Trust city resource from January 1, 1995 making it the first of its kind in the world. The decree implies that no new buildings or other exploitation is allowed within the park's boundaries, nor may anything be done that might damage the park's historical or ecological legacy.

Today's Ecopark has evolved from the one created by the two kings Karl XI and Gustav III who turned Djurgården into a royal hunting ground. As a result, exploitation of the island has been minimal and its woodlands and open parklands have been largely preserved intact for hundreds of years. From an ecological standpoint, the Ecopark is extremely interesting with its multitude of rare insects and flowers. It also boasts northern Europe's largest colony of oak trees which are home to the rare Oak Bark Grub.

Isbladskärret is a lake which lies just ten minutes from the city centre and which is ornithologically very important. Also found in the park are a number of cultural historical treasures including Sweden's oldest palace theatre - Confidencen, the Haga, Ulriksdal and Rosendal palaces, Boberg's gas clock and the cultural buildings of Hjorthagen. All told, the Ecopark lacks comparison.

How to get there?
There are free, guided sightseeing tours by boat every day throughout July operated by Stockholm Sightseeing (Tel. 08-24 04 70). Naturens Hus, which lies right in the heart of the Ecopark, and is open every Sunday between 11.00 and 16.00, organises walks in the park on Sundays during the Summer (Stora Skuggan, bus 40, Tel. 08-16 70 30).

Those of you who want to experience the park on your own can take bus 47 to southern Djurgården, or the underground to the Universitetet station, or bus 69 which on the outward journey passes Ladugårdsgärdet to Blockhusudden and on the return journey Hagaparken/Frösundavik. Hourly departures by boat leave from Strömkajen, Nybroviken or Slussen bound for Fjäderholmarna during May to September.