Reserve “Modrzewina”- is one of the biggest pillars of the Grójec district and the surrounding area.
It is not one of the oldest reserves in Poland as its establishment dates back to 1959. It is located in the commune of Belsk Duży in the Grójec district. It has a huge area, as much as 300 ha. The dominant species is Polish Larch. The height of the trees is about 34m. Trees are characterized by sparse crowns and twisted branches. In the reserve you will find a variety of flora and fauna. The soils are clearly dominated by brown and flat soils.
The floor of the towering trees created by the Larch:
-lower floor:
- oak (trees of the beech family, they usually exceed 30m in height and have rounded buds),
- pine (a dark green coniferous tree, its leaves are needles, they grow up to 40m high),
- grabe (tall deciduous tree, has an undulating trunk, grows up to 30 m tall),
- lipa (Straight trunk with thin, grey-brown bark, grows up to 40 m),
-understory layer:
- cruff (the bark was extracted quite intensively for medicinal purposes, so this plant has been given partial protection),
- hazel (tall deciduous shrub with large heart-shaped leaves)
- black elder (twigs, leaves and fruit give off an unpleasant and intoxicating smell, while the flowers have an intoxicating smell)
- coral elderberry (Small tree or shrub up to 5 metres high, brown bark)
Tourism in reseve „Modrzewina”:
Not only tourists visit the site, but also mushroom pickers and hikers as well as cyclists. Among the attractions are the conjoined pairs of oaks and larches in sector 152c and the 400-year-old log of a larch called “The Governor”.
There is a gazebo and a fireplace in the reserve. In one part of the reserve there are water ponds with an area of 1.8 ha. They are very frequently visited by tourists. Everyone will find something for himself. Beautiful fauna shows the beauty of this place. It is mostly used by the John Paul II school. Running for health and various special events are organized there. The reserve is protected by foresters, who do their work very reliably and are always there to help. A visit to the reserve is a great way to spend time with family or friends in the fresh air. If anyone would like to know more about the reserve, you will find quite a few information boards on site.
Location:
The reserve “Modrzewina” is a separate forest complex located near the village of Mała Wieś, which lies about 10 kilometres from Grójec and 1.5 kilometres north-west of the village of Belsk Duży . It is situated in Mazowieckie Voivodeship. The reserve is located on the territory of the Grójec Forest Inspectorate
History of legal protection:
After the Second World War, however, it was saved thanks to the commitment of local foresters and a lucky coincidence … when the area was considered “valuable to the Third Reich”. The first order establishing the “Modrzewina” nature reserve on an area of over 336 hectares was issued after the war in 1959. Since then, the entire forest complex has been under legal protection.
The most important aim of the reserve:
In the area of the reserve there are also species alien to our flora, such as:
-Japanese larch,
-Ash-leaved maple
-late black cherry,
Small-flowered impatiens,
These plants are one of the most important obstacles to the protection measures taken here. Their aim is to restore the flora close to the natural state and to ensure the continuity of the Polish larch existence as the dominant element of the reserve stands.
