Polesie National Park

Even though Polesie is not located in the north of Poland, it is probably more than any other Polish land associated with the far north. The peat bogs of the Polesie National Park are a substitute for tundra and wooded tundra located in the most southwestern part of Europe. The plants found here include many species characteristic of northern Europe, such as postglacial relics: downy willow, shrubby birch and Siberian iris. There are also numerous species of the Atlantic and steppe plants from the south of Europe. This mixture creates a curiosity on a European scale. The animal world is also very rich. The world of invertebrate animals associated with peat bogs is particularly interesting. Many rare and relict species live here. The most interesting vertebrate is the European pond turtle which currently cannot be met in such large numbers in any other Polish national park. The world of birds, of which we can encounter over 200 species here, is extremely interesting.

Cranes have always been associated with swamps. It is the peat bogs that these beautiful birds choose as their place to live, reproduce and raise their offspring. In their honour, one of the berries growing in the marshes was named cranberry. Cranes are the tallest birds living in Poland. They reach the height of 130 cm, and their wingspan is almost 240 cm. They have become a symbol of the Poleski National Park for a reason. It is here that they flock in great numbers before flying south for the winter. Their concentration on the Bubnów Marsh is one of the largest in the country.
These birds wake up at dawn and announce the morning with a loud voice – clangour. Whoever hears the voice of cranes in the swamp at dawn at least once will feel the charm of Polesie forever...

In the Polesie National Park, the first natural didactic trail within the "Bagno Bubnów" area was established. The name of the newly created path - "Czahary" - means wetland covered with shrubs. The population in the eastern territories of the First Polish Republic used this word already in the 17th century.

The path leads through open areas of low peatbogs, and partly through diverse forests surrounding the peatbog from the north, begins and ends behind the village of Zastawie, by the observation tower. However, it is also accessible in Kulczyn and Wincencin.

The "Bagno Bubnów" peatbog is an ideal place for many species of wetland birds. You can meet here: Common Snipe, Eurasian Curlew, The black-tailed godwit, Spotted Crake, The black-headed gull, or Western Marsh Harrier. It is also a great place for cranes. Their autumn gatherings in the Bubnów swamps are among the largest in the region. Over 3,000 individuals can gather here for spending nights.

There is another rare bird species on the "Bagno Bubnów" - The Aquatic Warbler. This inconspicuous bird from the reed warblers family is the rarest, migrating singing bird in Europe. The population in Polesie NP is stable and is estimated at about 400 singing males - this is the second largest population in the country.

Not only bird lovers will find something for themselves here. The path leads through forest, meadow and peatbog ecosystems, each of them representing different, specific plant and animal species. If you are lucky, you’ll see moose, roe deer and red deer as well.

It's length is 2.5 km (the longer option is 3.5 km). It starts in the village of Lomnica. Part of the foot-bridge is adopted for the disabled. The trail runs through various types of forests (high and low oak-linden-hornbeam forests, swamp forest) to the dystrophic Moszne Lake, which is in the last phase of being overgrown. A peculiar element of the trail is a transitory turf land generated on a quagmire called in here “splea”. Rare and interesting boreal plants are here, for example, the downy willow and swamp willow, betula humilis, round-leaved sundew and bog-rosemary and northern Labrador tea. A fragment of the trail from stop number 1 to stop number 7 is adopted for the use by the disabled.

Its length is approximately 7.5 km. It starts behind The Didactic and Museum PNP Centre in Zalucze Stare. It represents precious woodlands of sub-boreal swamp birch forest and hurst- valley alder forest as well as a transitory turfland and various types of meadows. Its particular attractions are carnivorous plants and blooming orchids. The trail ends up with a pier on the Lukie lake. You can acknowledge the vegetation zonality as it has its place in the eutrophic lake. The last part of the foot-bridge and the vantage pier have been adjusted for the disabled.

Its length is approximately 5 km. It starts in the village of Pieszowola, behind the post-manor park. The path runs through the complex of ponds and it has an ornithological character. It is at its most interesting during the migration of birds, the observation of which is made easier because of 2 towers and an observation shelter.

The trail starts in the village of Lipniak and leads to a large beaver lodge. The route goes through swamp forests and along a vast area of meadows called "Pociągi". It also crosses the area of what used to be an insurgent camp during the January Uprising in 1863. It was the biggest camp area during this uprising and it was never discovered by the enemy. Along the way there are 7 boards information about the history of this place, but also about the plants and animals living there.

This is a bicycle lane, 21 km. long. It begins in the village of Lowiszow, and a high turf land “Durne Swamp” with a viewing tower is located by the lane. The path creates a loop running through the complex of ponds in Pieszowola, and then goes along the Mietulka River up to the point of departure.

Its length is approximately 0.5 km. It is situated in the area of The Didactic and Museum PNP Centre in Zalucze Stare. It is designed for the youngest guests of the Park. It presents, among others, the forest structure; it describes the life of the European pond turtle and presents, created by the Park, a small Rehabilitation Centre for Animals.

In the management office of Poleski National Park where, among others, films are shown, there is Pond Turtle Protection Centre. In the period from mid-September to the end of May there are little pond turtles in the Centre. It is one of the activities the Park Service aimed at improving the state of pond turtles. There are many reasons why small pond turtles are kept in the Centre. One of them is that it is difficult to access water reservoirs near their lairs in which, during early autumn, there is no water. Young turtles residing in the Centre during the winter time are given food and they grow (they are 2-3 times bigger than in the autumn). They are released in spring into water near their lairs. Such actions increase their chances of survival in the environment.