Meeting point Blåherremölla

The project will adapt a building at the old Blåherremölla water mill with a new kitchen and a more purpose-built meeting room to be able to open the business to more visitors and over a longer season.

Blåherremölla in Maglehem is one of the best preserved watermills in Sweden and is also in operation. The owner family has had Blåherremölla and its café open a number of weekends each year, including during the Easter art tour, during mill and baking days and culture days, as well as in the middle of summer. In order to develop the business and make Blåherremölla a meeting place for a larger part of the year, the premises must be adapted with a suitable kitchen and an energy-efficient assembly hall/exhibition hall, where wind and rain do not come directly in. The exterior of the building is a listed building, but the interior will be carefully adapted.

The adapted premises mean that new types of activities can be organized and within the project two craft courses will be arranged on a trial basis. Together with local associations and schools, the association wants to develop a program of activities. In addition, the project is investigating what is required to build a nature trail along the river, accessible to people with physical disabilities, and to restore the old ford.

The efforts aim to make Blåherremölla a functioning, physical meeting place for visitors of different ages, local residents, local associations, camp and course participants. By reaching more people, a broader platform is also created for increased understanding of local history. Collaboration exists with the schools in Degeberga and Huaröd, Gärds Härads Hembygdsförening, Föreningen Skånska Gårdar, Föreningen Skånska Möllor. Several associations have expressed interest in collaboration, such as craft associations in Skåne and local associations in need of a physical meeting place.

The majority of the money has been used to build a new kitchen, dig up the old ford, restore the footbridge over the ford. Members of the association and craftsmen with experience of working with cultural buildings where special requirements are placed on understanding and knowledge of which rules apply. Several of the measures have been implemented after consultation and approval by the County Administrative Board of Skåne and Kristianstad Municipality.

Already during the project period we have been able to create increased interest in Blåherremölla and the work has attracted great attention from visitors. The project has contributed to the work with the care and preservation of Blåherremölla being awarded the Kristianstad Municipality's building conservation prize.

We continue in the spirit of the project and constantly develop visitor activities, the restoration of the cultural buildings in collaboration with the County Administrative Board, the municipality, various interest organizations as previously mentioned, etc. We are active through participation in Tourism in Skåne's large range of courses as well as various gatherings and courses/lectures, which are organized by the municipality and other actors, to promote the tourism industry.

A project where one wants to increase accessibility to a unique and historical place in a sustainable way and regardless of physical conditions. The project intends to broaden and expand activities while preserving and enhancing the unique cultural environment. One wants to work with history linked to the present and future and with collaboration between city and country. This fits well into Skånes Ess strategy and contributes to the goals for 2014-2020.