- It is ants that have built nests in load-bearing posts that hold up the roof, it is simply wrongly built, plinths have not been used but the wood stands directly against the ground and there the ants have built nests and chewed up the wood, says Markus Rehnberg, nature conservation officer at the County Administrative Board Västmanland.
Fire ravaged twice
The bird tower, or lookout point, in Strömsholm with a view of Ladugårdssjön has previously been ravaged by fire on two occasions.
After the second fire, part of the fire-damaged timber was left behind, something that has now had devastating consequences.
- It was after the second fire that they just patched up and I want to say that they did a fake construction, at least if you see it this way in retrospect, says Markus Rehnberg.
The ants settled
The ants liked the fire-damaged wood and were able to build nests in the wood and also in the wood that after a while began to rot because it lay directly against the ground.
This has led to the extensive damage you now see and which has led to the rotten, damaged parts being replaced.
At least until the end of November, the work will continue.
The County Administrative Board currently has no answer as to how large the cost will be in the end.