Janakkala’s natural monuments are mainly trees, with a few rock formations as well. According to section 95 of the Nature Conservation Act (9/2023), a natural monument may be designated as a tree, a group of trees, a glacial erratic or other natural formation. The reasons for protection can include the object’s beauty, rarity, landscape significance, scientific value or another comparable reason.

The municipality’s first natural monument in Janakkala was protected in 1959. Most of the municipality’s natural monuments were protected in the 1960s. Some of these protections have later been revoked, for example when a tree has died. There appears to have been a wave of monument protections especially in 1965; after that, further protections were carried out mainly in the 1980s and a few in the 1990s. The beginning of the 2000s was quieter regarding monument protections, until several protection applications were submitted after 2024.

This page presents the natural monuments in the order they were protected. Spatial data for these sites has been gathered from the open Karpalo map service maintained by the Finnish Environment Institute (Karpalo map service in Finnish).

Instructions for applying for a natural monument.

Heitikankivi stone

• Large stone, glacial erratic
• Protection decision from 1964
• Natural monument plaque: Yes, on a post at the front edge of the stone

Heitikankivi is located on the Alastalo farm right next to Hyvikkäläntie on the municipal border. The reddish-tinted glacial erratic rises high toward the crowns of the birches.

Heitikankivi was protected by the provincial government’s decision on November 9, 1964. According to the Finnish Heritage Agency’s (Museovirasto), Heitikankivi is classified as a fixed ancient relic as well as a cult and story site. The stone’s height is given as 8.5 metres and its circumference as 22.5 metres. According to legend, the devil of Hakoinen hillfort failed in his attempt to throw the stone toward Renko church.

Yli-Joutjärvi juniper

• Juniper with root system
• Protection decision from 1964
• Natural monument plaque: No

The old juniper is located in the village of Hakoinen on the Yli-Joutjärvi farm. Yli-Joutjärvi juniper was protected as a natural monument on 9 November 1964 by the Häme provincial government. The decision states that the protected object was three junipers with their root systems. There used to be a group of trees on the site, but today only one of the three junipers remains.

The park’s aspens and forest lindens

• Aspen and linden groupings
• Protection decision from 1965
• Natural monument plaque: No

The protected aspens and forest lindens stand out from other deciduous trees in the area because of their size. In a breeze you can hear the rustle of the leaves of the deciduous trees.

The park’s aspens and forest lindens were protected by a decision of the Settlement Board on January 12, 1965. During the field survey a group of five aspens was first found, which stood out because of their size compared to the younger deciduous trees growing nearby. Further along the strip of forest two more hefty aspens from another aspen group were encountered, as well as a linden group (4 trees) that stood out from the other vegetation.

Rahakamari cave

• Rocky cave, the so-called Rahakamari
• Protection decision from 1965
• Natural monument plaque: No

Rahakamari is located at Löyttymäki on the Peltola farm. The site is formed by a rocky and cave formation. The formation lies in a rocky area where the entrance to the cave is marked on trees with milk-can markings.

Rahakamari was protected by the Häme provincial government’s decision on July 14, 1965. The formation has several names; in addition to Rahakamari it is also called Kivikamari (stone chamber). Inside the chamber the air feels noticeably cooler than on the moss-covered rocky hummocks.

Räikälä pine

• Impressive and old pine
• Protection decision from 1965
• Natural monument plaque: No

The beautiful pine is located in the village of Räikälä on the Räikälä farm. The pine stands out majestically from the lush vegetation.

One of Janakkala’s largest pines with its root system was protected by the Häme provincial government’s decision on July 14, 1965. The pine is located in the Laurinmäki museum and nature conservation area, where the nature trail runs as far as Määkynmäki. On the shorter route the trail passes by the protected pine and returns to the Laurinmäki museum area.

Kauppila pine

• Old decaying pine
• Protection decision from 1965
• Natural monument plaque: Yes, attached around the tree with metal wire

Kauppila’s gnarled pine is located in the village of Kauppila. The pine was protected by the Häme provincial government’s decision on July 14, 1965. According to the protection application, at the time of application the tree was about 17 metres high and 33 centimetres in girth. The tree was described as having a straight trunk, and a burl formation was observed halfway up the trunk.

The most recent observation of the pine was recorded by the Häme Environment Centre in 1987. It was thought that the pine may have fallen in the Janika storm in 2001. In 2004 the landowner reported that the pine was still in place. According to historical aerial images maintained by the National Land Survey’s Paikkatietoikkuna, logging seems to have taken place in the area between 2020 and 2023. Surprisingly, the old decaying pine was still present during the survey in July 2026. The pine and its burl stand out clearly from the harvested and planted vegetation.

Vilpola linden

• Impressive linden with root system
• Protection decision from 1968
• Natural monument plaque: Yes, the plaque leans on a post against the linden.

Vilpola’s two-branched linden is located in the village of Saloinen. The linden by the road stands out as a beautiful specimen among the surrounding vegetation.

Vilpola’s linden was protected by the Häme provincial government’s decision on February 13, 1968. The linden appears to have grown freely, forming two branches. One of the linden’s branches has turned and grows toward the ground.

Hakoinen gnarled pine

• Old gnarled pine
• Protection decision from 1985
• Natural monument plaque: Yes, plate next to the pine on a post

The scaly-barked gnarled pine is located in the village of Hakoinen on the Ojala farm. The pine is said to be visible even from the motorway in winter from a private yard. During the summer inspection the pine’s crown stood out attractively in the landscape.

The gnarled pine was protected by the Häme provincial government’s decision on July 24, 1985. The protection was justified as promoting the public interest. At the time of application the old and large pine was described as 14.9 metres in height and approximately 90 centimetres in girth.

Ylöstalo oak

• Large oak in the yard
• Protection decision from 1991
• Natural monument plaque: Yes, a plaque on a post which has fallen into the tree’s root system

Ylöstalo’s oak is located in the village of Haapaniemi on the Ylöstalo farm. The oak’s trunk has split into two branches and its crown spreads widely.

The old oak was protected by the Häme provincial government’s decision on April 17, 1991. The protection was justified by the oak’s distinctiveness. At the time of application the oak’s girth was recorded as 320 centimetres. At that time the oak was the largest oak in Janakkala.

Liljantie oak

• Old oak
• Protection decision from 1999
• Natural monument plaque: Yes, a plaque on a post next to the oak

The impressive old oak stands in the yard of a housing community in the Turenki population center. The oak is prominent within the residential area and sits in a park-like setting.

Liljantie oak was protected by the municipal environmental committee’s decision on June 22, 1999. The oak is described as one of the most impressive and among the oldest trees in the Turenki population center, having grown relatively freely despite being close to settlement.

Myllynkulma spruces

• Two striking old spruces in Myllynkulma
• Protection decision from 2024
• Natural monument plaque: No

The striking spruces protected in 2024 are located in Myllynkulma. The spruces stand out clearly in height and girth from the edge of the sand road. Up close their needles and branches spread beautifully around the trunks.

Two old spruces in Harviala were protected for landscape reasons by the Permit Sub-committee’s decision on August 20, 2024. The spruces are estimated to be at least 100 years old and are large in size. According to measurements provided by the applicant, the spruces are 28–29 metres tall and have a root-collar circumference of 2.9–3 metres.

Grey alder in Mallinkainen

• Tall alder in Mallinkainen
• Protection decision from 2024
• Natural monument plaque: Yes, a plaque on a post next to the tree

The Mallinkainen alder was present during the field survey in June 2026. Logging had been carried out at the site and the alder had been properly marked. The alder stands out as a tall individual among the fern vegetation. Its crown grows high on a sturdy trunk.

The grey alder was protected by the Permit Sub-committee’s decision on November 19, 2024. The protection was based on landscape reasons and rarity. According to the applicant, the grey alder is over 28 metres tall. The application describes the alder as one of the tallest alders in Finland.

Columnar juniper in Mallinkainen

• Old juniper
• Protection decision from 2024
• Natural monument plaque: Yes, a plaque properly placed next to the juniper

The Mallinkainen columnar juniper was observed in place during the field survey in August 2026. The juniper appears rather bushy and dense near the yard and is relatively tall for a juniper.

The juniper was protected by the Permit Sub-committee’s decision on November 19, 2024. The protection was implemented for landscape reasons and due to the juniper’s rarity. The applicant estimates the columnar juniper to be about 120 years old and over 10 metres tall.

Mallinkainen spruce

• Old spruce
• Protection decision from 2026
• Natural monument plaque: No, not yet in the Karpalo map service

The Mallinkainen spruce was present during the field survey in August 2026. The spruce grows on a solid site among lily-of-the-valley, rock and needle vegetation. Its trunk is noticeably stouter than nearby conifers.

The old Mallinkainen spruce was protected by the Permit Sub-committee’s decision on January 21, 2026. The protection decision cited rarity as the reason. The application describes the tree as 31 metres tall, with a diameter of 90 centimetres (at breast height) and a stump diameter of 1.5 metres. The spruce’s age is estimated at about 130 years.

Mallinkainen pine

• Large veteran pine
• Protection decision from 2026
• Natural monument plaque: No, not yet in the Karpalo map service

The large veteran pine in Mallinkainen was present during the field survey in August 2026. The pine stands out clearly from the surrounding pine vegetation and is even visible from the road.

The veteran pine was protected by the Permit Sub-committee’s decision on March 11, 2026. The protection was justified on natural scientific grounds. The application describes the tree as a large Scots pine whose cavity has hosted, among others, an owl and a goldeneye. The pine is estimated to be unusually over 200 years old.