Visiting place Österlen waterway

At Skåne's highest waterfall, a unique visitor attraction has emerged – an inspiring oasis where nature experiences meet knowledge about the water cycle and sustainability.

Tomelilla Municipality, together with Österlen Water Council, wanted to create Österlen's first water visitor site at Hallamölla, Skåne's highest waterfall. The aim was to increase public knowledge about water and its cycle and inspire sustainable action to protect our waterways. The visitor site would serve as a permanent reminder of the importance of water and attract more people to visit and explore nature.

The project included the construction of an accessible visitor center with information signs and QR codes that lead to films adapted for children. Interactive elements such as the wooden sculpture ”Hugo the houseworm” were created, and seating and a weather shelter inspired by the adjacent mill were built. An inauguration was held with a lecture, tips walk and other activities, which attracted 180 visitors. Collaborations were established with schools, universities, associations and landowners, and a teacher's guide was developed to facilitate school visits. The project was communicated through local media, social channels and study visits.

The visitor site was completed and fulfilled the project's goal of increasing knowledge and awareness about water. A website was created, and the teacher's guide made it possible for school classes to use the site as an educational resource. New networks between partners were established, and initiatives for future events at the site were taken. The project attracted a broad target group, including many pensioners and nature enthusiasts, even though they were not among the primary target groups. Tomelilla Municipality plans to continue managing the site and using it as an arena for sustainability-promoting activities.

This project creates a meeting place at a watercourse that is of great importance in the landscape and which has been missing in our leader area until now. The project involves coordination with many different actors in a unique location.