Spring splendour at Fiskarsinmäki

Fiskarsinmäki nature reserve is a great destination for a family outing. There is plenty to see along the easy nature trail.   

Fiskarsinmäki, which is characterised by its deciduous herb-rich forest, is in a nature reserve situated in an inlet of Espoonlahti.  

“Fiskarsinmäki takes its name from the 18th-century fishermen who once had their fishing huts in the area.  It’s well worth visiting, especially in spring,” says KatrinAia, Environmental Planner at the City of Espoo.

Indeed, the nature reserve is at its best in spring when wood anemones, corydalis, yellow star-of-Bethlehem and lilies of the valley carpet the ground, and the forest is full of the sounds of nightingales, chaffinches, pied flycatchers, garden warblers and other migratory birds. 

The trees in this nature reserve have been left to grow undisturbed, which means that visitors can see magnificent old broadleaved trees, such as oak, lime, bird cherry and maple trees. One standout is a large hollow lime tree, which you can climb into if you are nimble enough.  

Visitors can observe nature along the circular Fiskarsinmäki trail, which is just over a kilometre long. It follows an old cart track and is an easy nature trail for the whole family, but it is not wheelchair accessible. The trail runs along the Mankinjoki river before it turns towards the seashore and the reed bed. 

Next to the reed bed, at the halfway point of the trail, is a bird-watching tower. Bring a pair of binoculars and spot some of the wetland birds of Espoonlahti.

“Fiskarsinmäki is a nice destination for birders. Sightings have been made of goldeneyes, great crested grebes, coots and waders, especially during the migration seasons,” Aia notes. 

During the summer season, Eastern Finncattle is brought to graze in the meadows by the sea. The meadows were used for grazing as far back as the 19th century, and they are classified as a traditional agricultural landscape. 

• Wood anemone is the regional flower of Uusimaa and the floral emblem of Espoo. 
• Deciduous herb-rich forests are the lushest forest type in Finland. They have the highest abundance of species among Finnish forest types. Only 1% of Finland’s total forest area is made up of deciduous herb-rich forests.
• Espoonlahti is home to one of the world’s most thriving populations of Macroplea pubipennis. This endangered species of leaf beetle grows to a length of seven millimetres.
• You can find the Fiskarsinmäki nature trail at Lasilaakso 20.

Text: Minna Saano.

This article was originally published in the Espoo-lehti magazine 1/2026. Read other Espoo-lehti articles.