During the 17th century Sweden was a country at war. Soldiers were recruited by conscription. Every male between the ages of 15 and 60 was liable to be called up. On 18th March 1628 a recruitment meeting was held at Värmdö Rectory. Among the men from Värmdö to be called up were Israel Ersson from Skägga, Klas Larsson from Rävsjö, Nils Olofsson from Sund, Anders Rasmusson from Stavsudda, Erik Andersson from Värmgärde, Peder Rasmusson from Överby and Jakob Hindersson from Alsvik. Their names are found in an old document.
In the margin next to one of the names the writer has added the word - “fled”. Farm boys would often flee into the forest to avoid conscription.
You’re now in the middle of Eriksberg’s forest. The path you’re on is partially paved with stone. The stones are thought to have been brought here at the end of the 19th century and laid to create a minor road which made a convenient route through the forest.
The forest provided firewood to keep houses warm and fuel for cooking. You could find material for fences and cattle enclosures in the forest as well as timber for building houses, boats and jetties.
Small game like squirrels, birds and foxes were caught in the forest using traps and cages. Larger animals like elk and deer belonged to the king. Commoners were not allowed to hunt them but even so they sometimes ended up in the traps they set.
There are signs of human activity in several places in the forest – such as overgrown fields and pastures. In the past the people of the archipelago were all-rounders. They combined fishing, hunting and forestry with cereal growing and animal husbandry.
