Animals
Large parts of the nature in and around Gl. Lejre are protected and this benefits the wildlife. There are many deer, pheasants and hares in the area and the birdlife and the insect life, not least, are varied and exciting.
In spring, you hear the skylark over the open fields and meadows. And at the end of May, the nightingale arrives. Gl. Lejre is home to a large population of nightingales which may be heard, for example, in the scrub alongside the creeks Kornerup Å and Lejre Å.
In winter, you may meet the dipper which is hunting for insect larvae in the creek. When it spots prey, it jumps into the water. When it is hunting, the dipper walks the bottom of the creek, you see. It has an extra eyelid - a nicitating membrane - which is semi-transparent. It acts as a kind of diving goggle while the dipper collects insects and small animals.
Odin's bird in Gl. Lejre
Many birds of prey soar above the landscape, all year round. You may spot common buzzards, kestrels, marsh harriers, peregrine falcons and red kites. There are also lots of crows, rooks and jackdaws all year round. These black birds bring to mind Odin's ravens Hugin and Munin. Ravens have also been spotted in Gl. Lejre.
See dofbasen.dk for more observations
Along the creeks, you may see both toads and frogs, and the varied flora means that there are many butterflies and dragonflies. You may spot map butterflies, little coppers and common blues. And of the dragonflies, you may spot common damselflies and banded demoiselles.
Cows graze at the ancient monuments
The Danish Nature Agency owns some of the areas around the ancient monuments. Here, cows and horses graze and care for nature, so that dog roses and other invasive species do not take over. The animals actually make a significant contribution to maintaining Danish nature. When grazing, they contribute to ensuring a varied flora and fauna.
Plants
Although you may be going to Gl. Lejre out of a primarily historical interest, the area also offers up exciting nature. The lines between culture and nature become blurred in the peaceful landscape.
The trails pass through fields, meadows and commons. And from the many ridges you can see the landscape created by the ice 13,000 - 15,000 years ago. You may also observe many of the plants that the Vikings cultivated or used more than 1,000 years ago.
Viking heart medicine
This may be common foxglove and butterbur, for example. We know that the Vikings knew of and used both as medicinal plants. Both foxglove and butterbur grow along the path by the stone ships in the direction of Hyldehøj.
Foxglove has been found in Viking tombs. The plant contains a substance which increases the pumping power of the heart and which is toxic. Butterbur has an anti-histamine effect on hay fever and asthma. Since it is reasonable to assume that the Vikings suffered a lot from their smoky dwellings with open fireplaces and no chimney, it is not unthinkable that they may have used butterbur to combat respiratory problems.
Analgesic and fever-reducing plants
We also know that the opium poppy was well-known in Denmark already around 0 AD, when it was brought to the country from the Roman empire and was used as an analgesic. It has likely been needed when the Vikings had been in battle.
You may also find blackthorn and elder in the hedgerows of Gl. Lejre. In Nordic mythology, the elder is associated with Freya and both its flowers and berries may be used to ease colds.
The Volva's henbane
When renovating the garden at Gl. Kongsgaard in Gl. Lejre in 1990, henbane was found on Klintebakken. Henbane has been used as a medicinal plant since the Viking Age. The seeds can germinate after hibernating for 800 years.
At the Viking settlement Fyrkat in Northern Jutland, seeds of henbane kept in a small leather pouch were found in a tomb. Henbane causes hallucinations and it is believed that the deceased in the tomb was a so-called volva - a pagan seer. With her in her tomb, she had – apart from the henbane seeds - a rod which was part of the volva’s equipment. Henbane has also been found in the garden at Hestebjerggård.
Great diversity
Other plants that you may come across, and which may have been known to the Vikings, include ramson, field scabious, common orpine, viper’s bugloss and red deadnettle. At Grydehøj, you may also come across maiden pinks, catchflies and dog violets.
All in all, the diversity is significant in the areas at and around the old burial mounds and ancient monuments where the earth has never been ploughed and fertilized. It is estimated that on just one square metre of the very best common, you may find up to 50 different plant species.