Birds in Herb-rich Forests
Most of the nature reserve is covered by green-leafed forests dominated by alders and birches and damp forests. There are three brooks in the area. Lush ferns thrive on the wetlands surrounding them. In the area's forests visitors can hear the song of the Willow warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus), the Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) and the Common Blackbird (Turdus merula). Rare species such as the Arctic warbler (Phylloscopus borealis) and the Greenish warbler (Phylloscopus trochiloides) also nest in the area.
Old Fields and Flower Meadows
When a burnt field no longer productive the next patch of forest is cleared. The old field is then used as a pasture for livestock and moulds into meadow with wild flowers and woodland strawberries. The area consisting of fields and pastures around a farmhouse slowly grows. The Finnish saying "Oma maa mansikka, muu maa mustikka" (My own land strawberry, other land blueberry) originates from this. As the meadows become wooded again strawberries disappear and blueberries start to grow. Slash-and-burn forest is burnt at 20 to 40 year intervals and the cycle begins again.
The grounds of Telkkämäki farm remain as fields and meadows because of continuous grazing and mowing. Already after a few years of planned grazing there has been a rise in the number of meadow species in the area and their abundance. The number of butterflies and moths has also risen. The most common plant species found in slash-and-burn clearings in the area are the Rough Hawkbit (Leontodon hispidus), the Bluebutton (Knautia arvensis) and the Common Yarrow (Achillea millefolium). There are a multitude of wild meadow flowers in the area, the most common of which are the Fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium), the Wild Angelica (Angelica sylvestris) and the Meadow Buttercup (Ranunculus acris). The Red Campion (Silene dioica) adds a slash of colour to the nature trails.
The Bristly Bellflower (Campanula cervicaria), which is threatened nationwide appears at Telkkämäki. It light blue flowered plant blossoms in July in open areas such as roadsides. The latex from this plant was used a medicine in olden times.