Living in Linköping doesn’t mean a long journey to see countryside and green open spaces. In the city centre is Trädgårdsföreningen which is a horticultural park established in 1859 and was originally intended as a place for the middle classes to promenade. It has since become a park for all inhabitants where they can walk and play on the green open grass area: There is also a stage and a garden nursery selling seeds and plants. In Trädgårdsföreningen is also represented the NaturCentrum which is Linköpings School of Nature and arranges, amongst other things, activities, courses and letures for the public. In the city is also the Castle park area which is rich in artifacts and dates back to the 12th century construction of the Cathedral and the 16th Castle.

Not far from Tinnerbäcken in the Berga area of the city, lies Berga Skulpturpark which contains a number of plaques dedicated to famous people and families associated with Linköping and also a number of sculptures. Not to be missed is Folkets Park not far from Gamla Linköping.

Oak landscape and woodland

For most of the inhabitants of Linköping, the nearest recreation areas are Valla and the woodland surrounding Ryd which are open to all. These areas are ideal places to exercise or just enjoy a stroll whilst looking for wild mushrooms and berries. Linköping is also famous for its oak trees. To the immediate south of the Garnisonen area is “Tinnerö oak landscape” with a combination of several hundred year old oak trees, meadows and leafy groves. The area is also a cultural Eldorado with a large number of archeological remains mainly dating back to the Iron Age and comprising of graves, settlements and stone walls. This area is undergoing development aimed at preserving the natural and cultural treasures whilst providing people with wonderful experiences and recreation not far from the city centre. To the south is the Rosenkällasjön lake which has been recreated to the same level as it was during the Iron Age.

Many nature reserves

Allemansrätten, which is the legal right of access to private land, makes it easy to access the Swedish countryside but it also involves responsibility and requires common sense. Damaging the countryside and hurting the wildlife is not permitted and consideration should be shown to the landowner and other people enjoying the countryside. Nature reserves, however, do involve more regulations.

Linköping municipality has 17 nature reserves including Kärna mosse which is a limestone marsh rich in orchids and surrounded by coniferous and deciduous forests located on the outskirts of Malmslätt.

For those interested in bird watching the nature reserve at Svartåmynningen has a wide expanse of marshland with grazing meadows surrounding the entrance of Svartån into lake Roxen between Linköping and Vreta Kloster. The area has a very rich birdlife as well as a number of bird towers.

The new nature reserves at woods Vidingsjöskogen and Ullstämmaskogen are also worth a visit.