Skarven

Together with the Nature Conservation Society in Gävle and Studiefrämjandet, we undertook a commemorative excursion on 9 June to Skarven, a lovely spot 1.5 miles northwest of Gävle that has greatly attracted both Stig-Olof and C-G. Both Stig-Olof and C-G had previously been engaged with SNF-Gävle and had devoted considerable attention to Skarven there. For once, the excursion was favored by fine weather, which together with the expected butterflies made for a successful outing. Notably, there was a large invasion of Thistle butterflies that culminated in Gästrikland during the second week of June. In many places up to 40 Thistle butterflies were noted simultaneously in certain villa gardens. This was probably the largest Thistle butterfly invasion in modern times. I myself could sense what was to come on Öland already in mid-May. At Skarven, a few specimens presented themselves in a magnificent manner for the particularly international assembly of participants.

What then is Skarven, perhaps some wonder. As appears from the map below from the 17th century, the small settlement was already established 300 years ago. Ulf Swahn, who has collected material about Skarven over many years, will in the coming issue of Insectifera provide an account of the settlement's interesting history. Today, however, no buildings remain. Most of the infields have been planted over. Some fine areas do remain. Perhaps the time is now finally ripe to make Skarven into the interesting destination for nature lovers in Gävle that some of us have advocated for over 30 years, but which it has hitherto been so difficult to actually "bring about". C-G's charges, the field biologists, should be able to get a good area to work with here. If the nature people could also get a small hut to lodge in with electricity for night butterfly studies, it should be a boost, not just for Gävle's entomologists, but for all of Gävle's nature lovers.