Riihimäki has sent letters of thanks to the owners of private nature reserves

This week, ahead of Finnish Nature Day on August 30, the city of Riihimäki has sent letters of appreciation to the owners of private nature reserves. With the letters, the city wants to acknowledge the valuable work of the city's residents in terms of biodiversity. Establishing a nature reserve is a decision that ensures the preservation of unique nature and promotes biodiversity. Each nature reserve develops into its own, special natural refuge.

Riihimäki has a total of 26 nature reserves, 16 of which are on privately owned land. Protected areas account for 3,1 percent of Riihimäki's land area. The city of Riihimäki aims to increase the area of ​​protected areas to four percent of the land area.

There are currently over 370 hectares of nature reserves. Of these, approximately 180 hectares are located on city land, approximately 110 hectares on private land, and an additional approximately 85 hectares on state land.

The newest are the Poikainahonmäki and Pohjankorvi nature reserves.

The newest nature reserves are the Poikainahonmäki and Pohjankorvi nature reserves, located in areas owned by the city. The city received protection decisions for these from the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment in the summer of 2025.

The Poikainahonmäki nature reserve covers an area of ​​8,9 hectares and is located in Lemmenmäki. It is a forest with a grove-like fabric, the tree cover of which is old mixed pine-dominated forest. On the western edge of the area there is a spruce forest area with large trees. Decayed stands occur in the form of a few old windfalls. An extensive network of trails runs through the Poikainahonmäki nature reserve.

The Pohjankorvi nature reserve is 6,5 hectares in size and is located at Käräjäkoski on both sides of the Vantaanjoki River. The Pohjankorvi nature reserve is also a forest of grove-like fabric. Decayed wood is found in the form of ground trunks and upright dry spruce logs. The Pohjankorvi nature reserve is actively used for recreation, and a nature trail runs along the banks of the Vantaanjoki River.

The first nature reserve in Riihimäki was established in Vahteristo on city land in 2008. Next, in 2009, private landowners protected their land and the Vatsia Nature Reserve was formed. The Vahteristo Nature Reserve is still the largest protected area in Riihimäki.

Finnish Nature Day is celebrated every year on the last Saturday of August.