Rungstedlund - garden and bird sanctuary

In the summer of 1958, Karen Blixen took the initiative of turning the park of Rungstedlund into a bird sanctuary. This section of woodlands was, and remains, a protected area. The specimens of trees that grow there include many old beeches, some measuring more than three meters in circumference and probably 250 to 300 years old.

The many nesting boxes scattered around the property are a vital help to brooding birds. Nearly two hundred numbered boxes have been set up, all regularly inspected by the ornithologists. Forty different species nest here, primarily garden and woodland birds, typical of the area.

A pleasant stroll through the grove starts at the museum entrance (1) and follows the path past the pond (2) and the white bridge, going north. Sheep graze freely in the enclosure. North of it are the orchard and flower garden, (3) which supplies a wide variety of blooms for the house. The path runs on to the highest spot of the grove, the elevation called "Ewald's Hill" (4). Just before reaching it, there is a view northward across the large horse paddock, of a stately oak tree known as "Listener's Oak" (Lytteregen) (5). "Listener's Oak" was originally an offshoot of another ancient oak tree called "Gnarled Oak" (Snogegen), one that stood in the northern forest of Jaegerspris, famous for its ancient oak trees (near Frederikssund). "Listener's Oak" was planted in 1958 as a token of Karen Blixen's gratitude to 80.000 of her radio-listeners who each contributed one krone in response to the then newly established Rungstedlund Foundation.

At the foot of "Ewald's Hill", and beneath an imposing beech tree (6), lies the grave of Karen Blixen. Over to the west, on the other side of the mound, is "Manor House grove" (Herregardslunden) (7). It was here that in 1961 Karen Blixen planted trees donated from country estates which had had special significance for her due to family ties. These trees bear identification labels showing their place of origin.

Located at random in the grove are benches named after birds or after certain individuals associated with the house for instance "Madam's Bench" (8) Ingeborg Dinesen - Karen Blixen's Mother, "Clara's Bench" (9) Clara Selborn - Karen Blixens secretary, and "Madam Carlsen's Bench" (10) Caroline Carlsen - Karen Blixen's housekeeper. "Mrs. Christensen's Bench" (11) was named after an elderly visitor who mourned the absence of benches in the grounds.

Source: The Karen Blixen Museum

 

Photo: Marina V. Vorobjova, 2009.