Åbo Skov

The most outlying project site of Aarhus Landscape Laboratory is Åbo Skov, a young forest comprising 70 hectares located at the western end of Aarhus Å River Valley. The forest was established by Aarhus Municipality in 2014 on the southern slopes where the Aarhus River flows into the river valley.

Åbo Skov is part of the implementation of a municipal plan from 1989 entitled Aarhus Omkranset af Skov (Aarhus Surrounded by Forest). The forest is situated on former agricultural land, on top of a large groundwater reservoir that supplies 16 % of the drinking water of the city of Aarhus – one of the major reasons for establishing the forest. In 2020, Åbo Skov was associated with the landscape laboratory to make possible experiments into the potential of nature and the potential for nature experiences in recently established forest areas. The experiments are carried out in both research and teaching.