Many of us have walked by, stopped, wondered, and then shaken our heads and continued on our way. This phenomenon can be seen, among other places, in the forests on the southern side of Årstaviken, but it can be found in several locations around the Stockholm area.
After long wondering and coming up with several creative and far-fetched explanations for the phenomenon, I decided to do a Google image search and voilà, I got the answer.
Mulmholk for biological diversity
This is a "Mulmholk", dear friends. A Mulmholk is an initiative for biological diversity. In this man-high, cut-off tree trunk, mulm is created, a mixture of broken-down wood and other organic material, where insects of all kinds thrive. They love to live inside the standing, decaying tree trunk. And we all know that biological diversity in nature makes the forest soil and forest healthier.
The City of Stockholm has taken this seriously, and now you can see Mulmholks in many forests in the Stockholm area.
So, good people, next time you're walking in the forest and see this strange creation, don't be surprised! The answer is clear and simpler than your imagination. Remember the word Mulmholk and if you see other lost and wondering forest visitors, you can explain it to them and impress them with your environmental knowledge.
