The Finnish Natural Heritage Foundation has received a forest from Southwest Finland, which will be renamed Tapsunkolkka. The fourteen-hectare area formerly known as Sepänpelto is located in Aura, 25 kilometres northeast of Turku.

The forest was donated by Reeta Kuuskoski, a friend of old forests, who once received the forest as a gift from her father. Kuuskoski recently learnt about the current activities of the Finnish Natural Heritage Foundation and was convinced that the foundation would help preserve the forest. The permanent protection would honour her father’s memory in the best possible way.

“I was very impressed by the foundation’s achievements in conservation work. The Finnish Natural Heritage Foundation is a visible and encouraging actor that encourages nature lovers to participate in conservation efforts. I wish more people would participate in this important cause by donating their forests to the foundation,” says Kuuskoski.

Tapsunkolkka is a pine-dominant forest, where you can find lichen-covered rocks and heathland rich in blueberry and lingonberry. The forest has remained undisturbed for a long time. It is home to, for example, the willow tit and the crested tit, which were spotted in the forest during an inspection visit in the autumn.

Tapsunkolkka will be the 13th area to be protected by the foundation in Southwest Finland. Under the protection of the Finnish Natural Heritage Foundation, Tapsunkolkka will remain permanently undisturbed and will continue to provide shelter for numerous endangered species. However, more shelter would be needed, and especially in southern Finland, many more forests should be classified as protected areas.

“The conservation status of forests in Southwest Finland is unfortunately poor, and the forests are in poor condition. That is why this kind of a donation is a very valuable gift to the Finnish Natural Heritage Foundation, and to our nature as a whole. Everyone who can should offer their forests for permanent protection by donating them to the Finnish Natural Heritage Foundation”, says Pepe Forsberg, Managing Director of the Finnish Natural Heritage Foundation.