Phone +354 690 6966 | ||
 | ||
Address Skálanes, Seydisfjordur, Iceland Hours Open today · 12AM–5PM, 9PM–12AMThursday12AM–5PM, 9PM–12AMFriday12AM–5PM, 9PM–12AMSaturday12AM–5PM, 9PM–12AMSunday12AM–5PM, 9PM–12AMMonday12AM–5PM, 9PM–12AMTuesday12AM–5PM, 9PM–12AMWednesday12AM–5PM, 9PM–12AMSuggest an edit Similar Hótel Aldan, The Old Apothecary, Seydisfjor HI hostel Hafaldan, Kaldbaks, Blabjorg Guesthou | ||
Sk lanes june 2014
Skálanes Nature and Heritage Centre is a 1250 hectare nature reserve situated on a peninsula 17km east of Seyðisfjörður, East Iceland.
Contents
- Sk lanes june 2014
- Sk lanes feb 2009
- Location
- The Reserve
- The University of Glasgow
- Past Projects
- Planning
- Projects at Sklanes
- Turf wall turf building construction
- Path work
- Re forestation
- Lupin control
- Stone wall construction
- Sustainable Agriculture
- Monitoring Survey Work
- References
The nature reserve and centre are owned and managed by Ólafur Pétursson and his family. The day-to-day running of the reserve is undertaken by Ólafur with the help of a wide variety of people from the local Icelandic community and from overseas. The reserve is home to extensive bird, plant and animal life, including a large Eider Duck colony, farmed sustainable each year for Eider down. Ólafur's intention was to create an "open laboratory in an experimental site focusing on practical solutions in sustainability and species diversity.” In doing so Skálanes has become a hub for scientific, social and cultural exploration and has subsequently evolved into a place for diverse, enthusiastic and interested people.
Skálanes has been established by the continuous evolving relationships between the local community and researchers from overseas. Over the years, collaborations have been developed between educational establishments such as: Southern Connecticut State University, Earlham College, Liverpool John Moores University, Wellesley College and University of Glasgow. Skálanes has provided the foundations for a wide variety of research topics in the fields of: natural history, linguistics, genealogy, archaeology, anthropology, conservation, ecology and local culture.
Sk lanes feb 2009
Location
Skálanes is located 17 km to the east of the town of Seyðisfjörður in eastern Iceland at 65° 18' 0" North, 13° 43' 0" West.
The Reserve
The reserve is roughly 1250 ha in size. The site is bounded by the sea on the north and east and by a continuation of similar land to the south and west. The majority of the land slopes from the skyline (945m) in the south to the sea at the northern edge of the reserve. The coastline along the northern edge of the reserve makes up the southern side of the mouth of the Fjord called Seyðisfjorður, whilst the eastern section of coastline consists of sheer sea cliffs reaching up to 600 meters in height.
Below is list of the main habitat types found on the reserve:
This wealth of habitats provide niches for a wide variety of life. There are at least 150 species of plants, 47 bird species and the 4 Icelandic mammals.
The University of Glasgow
Within the framework of the University of Glasgow Exploration Society (ExSoc) which supports young people to travel, explore and research new environments, the Iceland Expedition to Skálanes was first set up in 2008. Since then a group of around six students has spent the summer months carrying out both individual and group research projects around the reserve. Skálanes provides a landscape and environment, ideal for the development of research skills in a broad range of disciplines.
Past Projects
Planning
The Iceland Expedition is an entirely student-led trip, with each team member having an individual role within the group. The expedition team work in conjunction with Ólafur Pétursson, in order to arrange research projects that will both benefit the University of Glasgow and the Skálanes Reserve. The planning process begins in early October, with the expedition beginning in the summer the following year. A report back evening is held in March, eight months after the end of the expedition. The results of the expedition are presented and a full report of each expedition is published in the University of Glasgow Library.
Many of the expeditions to Skálanes have had financial support from charitable institutions including: Royal Geographical Society, Glasgow Natural History Society and Gilchrist Educational Trust. The expedition is also financed by private fundraising and personal contribution.
Projects at Skálanes
There are many long term projects that are currently being undertaken on the reserve.
Turf wall / turf building construction
The method of using turf for creating boundaries and structures can be seen in many places throughout Iceland and is being used at Skálanes due to its heritage significance and unobtrusiveness when placed in natural environments. The work entails cutting and stacking turf in two lines and filling the centre with soil. The turf is overlapped in each layer similar to bricks in a house and tied together with pieces of turf which bridge the central cavity. The top is then capped with large pieces of turf.
Path work
Essential to present and future visitor management is the creation and upkeep of various paths within the reserve. Staff are currently designing a specification for path construction and starting to lay paths in the most heavily used areas of the reserve.
Re-forestation
Skálanes has an ambitious re-forestation plan covering 111 ha of the site. The tree species used in these plantings are predominantly birch, rowan and willow all of which are Icelandic native species. Various planting methods are being trialed and monitored so that planting efforts are well targeted and efficient. One of the largest areas of planting is located in an area where many fragments of relic woodland and associated ground flora remain. Supplementary planting in this area will hopefully accelerate the process of natural regeneration and encourage the remaining scrubby trees to expand into contiguous woodland.
Lupin control
In recent years there has been some debate surrounding the Nootka lupin (Lupinus nootkatensis) in Iceland. An introduced species used to combat soil erosion, lupin grows well on exposed, eroded soil areas however there is growing concern that in some places it is creeping away unchecked and out competing the native flora which consists of many delicate herbs, wild flowers, grasses and sedges. The lupin at Skálanes is now being studied using various methods so as to help develop a landscape scale plan for the control and removal of this plant. It appears from direct observation within the reserve that there is a considerable loss of biodiversity in the areas that surround the lupin as it encroaches upon and out competes with other species.
Stone wall construction
Using a specification written by a Scottish volunteer from a previous group, staff use stone from the surroundings to create boundary walls and walls for various structures.
Sustainable Agriculture
The staff are increasingly looking at making Skálanes more sustainable and will be introducing some low-impact agriculture to the area around the centre. This will involve projects like a vegetable garden and rearing chickens and pigs.
Monitoring & Survey Work
Monitoring and survey work is an important part of the conservation work at Skálanes. There are a wide variety of bird and plant species on the reserve which staff and volunteers surveys and monitor each year.