In the heart of nature
What does a real wolf paw feel like? What does a beaver smell like? Visitors to Naturum Värmland will learn a lot! And at Lillskogen, you can say hello to Madicken the pig and other Swedish farm animals. Here at Mariebergsskogen, the emphasis is on the children. Entry is free for everyone, adults and children alike.
TEXT: OLLE HALLBERG PHOTO: MARTIN STRÖM
Naturum has the dense pine forest right on its doorstep and Lake Vänern glittering behind. This is a centre for Värmland flora and fauna, with the emphasis on play and learning.
Guide Marie Johansson has just sorted out everything for the first visit of today, from a preschool class. The excitement becomes palpable when the predator box is taken out. The young friends of nature carefully touch a huge bear's paw and the needle-sharp teeth of a lynx.
Outside the auditorium, you can listen to birdsong, feel the warmth from an egg which the mother bird has been sitting on, smell beavers and make other exciting discoveries. The children particularly enjoy feeding the make-believe pike and finding out what kind of food it'll accept.
Just a few minutes from Naturum is Lillskogen, a zoo which is home to more than 40 different animal species. You can meet sheep, pigs, horses, birds, rabbits and lots of other animals here. Visitors can wander freely through the park, between the various fields. There's a stable here, as well as a small animal house where exotic birds and fish from various parts of the world live.
The low fences around the fields allow even the smallest visitors to see the world of the animals. A lot of people are amazed to find out how big a fully grown pig actually is.
