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Cold Winters
“Här är det skönt att vara, här är det gott att leva.”
“Here it is beautiful to be; here it is good to live.”
~ Esaias Tegnér
Northern hemispherians are shivering together—at sea level, in the lowlands, and up in the highlands and mountains—whether in Scotland or in Sweden!
This tartan belongs to a collection created to celebrate the highland character of Sweden, drawing inspiration from the country’s varied geography and climate. Sweden stretches along a long north–south axis, and that length brings striking regional contrasts. The south is shaped by lowlands with comparatively mild conditions and longer, warmer summers, while the north is defined by uplands and mountains where winters are long, cold, and rich with snow.
Between these extremes lies the Southern Swedish Highlands: an elevated interior plateau that blends characteristics of both regions. Known for its forests, lakes, bogs, and rocky terrain, this area experiences colder winters and more reliable snowfall than the surrounding lowlands. Winter days are often washed in pale light—overcast skies punctuated by crisp blue clearings—while lakes and wetlands freeze solid for months at a time.
The tartan’s colour palette reflects these seasonal conditions: white for snow-covered ground, soft greys for winter cloud and muted daylight, blues for cold skies and ice, and deeper tones that echo frozen lakes and shadowed forests. Brrrr! 🤍 💙 💛 ❄️ ❄️ ❄️
The Swedish Highlands are dominated by boreal and hemiboreal ecosystems shaped by elevation, cool temperatures, and relatively high precipitation. Coniferous forests prevail, with Norway spruce and Scots pine forming the backbone of the landscape. Birch is common in wetter areas and at higher elevations, while understory vegetation is typically sparse, consisting mainly of dwarf shrubs such as bilberry and lingonberry. Extensive bogs and mires are a defining feature of the Southern Swedish Highlands, where poor drainage and acidic soils favor sphagnum mosses, sedges, and cotton grass. Lichens are widespread and play an important ecological role, particularly as winter forage for herbivores.
The fauna of the Swedish Highlands reflects a largely intact northern European forest ecosystem. Large herbivores include moose, which are the dominant ungulate and strongly influence forest regeneration, as well as roe deer and, in some areas, red deer. Predators are fewer in number but ecologically significant. Eurasian lynx are the most widespread large carnivore, while wolves occur at low densities and range over very large territories. Brown bears are present mainly in northern highland regions but occasionally disperse southward.
Among the more unusual or less frequently encountered animals are the wolverine, which inhabits remote highland and forest areas and is known for its wide-ranging behavior and scavenging habits, and the European pine marten, which depends on mature forest structure. Lemmings, although more characteristic of northern Sweden, periodically appear in upland habitats and are notable for their population cycles, which can influence predator numbers. In parts of central Sweden, small populations of reintroduced musk ox persist, representing a rare remnant of Ice Age fauna in Scandinavia.
Birdlife is closely tied to forest age and structure. Capercaillie and black grouse rely on mature conifer forests, while species such as the great grey owl and several woodpecker species indicate healthy woodland ecosystems. Wetlands support breeding waders and waterfowl during the short summer season. Overall, the flora and fauna of the Swedish Highlands are characterized by specialization, low productivity, and strong seasonal constraints, making the region an important refuge for species adapted to cold, nutrient-poor environments.
And if you are a birder, click the landscape for more about birdwatching in Sweden!