Oborniki Forest District
ul. Gajowa 1
64-600 Oborniki
tel.: 061/297-13-02, faks: 061/297-13-61
oborniki@poznan.lasy.gov.pl
www.poznan.lasy.gov.pl/oborniki
The forests of the Oborniki District form a part of the Noteć Forest. The area is situated in the Vale of Rivers Warta and Noteć where numerous dunes formed on outwash sands can be found. In the southern part of the Forest District the soil is formed mostly from glacial sands and till. It is a very interesting region in terms of landscape, including forests growing in the catchment area of the River Warta and its tributaries.
Oborniki Forest District was established in 1893 partly from the state property and partly from private forests. At that time the District measured 7,088 ha, while currently it is composed of 18 Forest Sub-Districts and a nursery. The territorial extent of the District is 60,728 ha. It covers an area of 20,903 ha, of which 20,131 ha is forest.
Coniferous trees are dominant in the forests of the District. Scots pine dominates; it covers 90.5 % of the area; then birch - 2.9 %, oak - 2.6 %, alder - 2.2 % and others - 1.8 %.
In 2004 the District’s forests then became a part of the „Puszcza Notecka” Promotional Forest Complex. With an area of 137,273 ha it is the biggest PFC in Poland. It lies within the boundaries of three regional State Forests administration: Poznań, Piła and Szczecin. It is composed of 7 Forest Districts: Potrzebowice, Wronki, Krucz, Sieraków, Oborniki, Karwin, Międzychód.
The most valuable nature elements are subject to protection in nature reserves. In the Oborniki Forest District there are three such areas: „Świetlista Dąbrowa”, „Promenada” and „Dołęga”.
The „Świetlista Dąbrowa” reserve was established for research and educational reasons, and to protect a type of Potentillo albae-quercetum - oak habitat, vanishing in the western part of the Polish Lowland. The reserve comprises of oak and mixed-stands including parts of pine old-growth, pine polewood, hazel brushwood, hollows with temporarily stagnant water and boulders. The following species have been found here: white cinquefoil, mountain clover, soft-leaved sedge, multi-flowered buttercup, lungwort, dyer's greenweed. The growth development of the Potentillo albae-quercetum habitat is particularly interesting. It is connected to cattle grazing in the past. Grazing led to the reduction of sapling and undergrowth and, as a result, the increased access of light rays to the lowest parts of the forest. These conditions favoured the growth of luciphilous species typical of the Potentillo albae-quercetum type of forest.
The „Dołęga” Reserve was established to protect and preserve stands of the rare giant horsetail (Equisetum telmateia). The species is quite common in lower parts of Sudeten Mountains and the Carpathians but is extremley unusual in lowlands . Due to the special character of the reserve (a very steep slope) it is impossible to move around with ease. It is possible, though, to visit the western part of the reserve with no access to the interior of the reserve.
„Promenada” reserve was created to protect the well maintained stands of the central European oak and hornbeam forest (Galio silvatici-carpinetum). Oaks make up 80% of all species in this type of forest. There are many specimens of protected trees here, particularly oaks with the circumference of 730 cm. Many rare and protected species occur in the undergrowth. One of them is climbing corydalis, which blooms in early spring. Such a well formed Galio silvatici-carpinetum habitat with climbing corydalis is very rare in Wielkopolska.
Another protected area is the „Wełna” water reserve, measuring 9.55 ha in total, along a 3.5 km section of the River Wełna (between the distillery in Wełna and the mill in Jaracz). It was established in 1959 to preserve the specific nature of fauna and flora typical of fast flowing mountain streams. Red algae Thorea ramosissiuma live on bivalve shells and the stones that lay on the bottom. It is the only place in Poland where this species of algae can be found. The mountain character of this part of the river is also proved by other species which are rare in lowlands, i.e. red algae Hildebrandia rivularis. The river forms several bends; its left bank is steep and right is flat. Thirty one species of water mollusks were found in the reserve (for example 3 species of mussels) and snails, for example Theodoxus fluviatilis and Ancylus fluviatilis. The steep banks are occupied by beavers which have settled in the reserve. The rich flora includes numerous fish species, such as barbel, chub and dace.
In the Oborniki District, apart from nature reserves, there are two areas of protected landscape: „Puszcza Notecka” [Noteć Forest] and „Dolina Wełny i Rynna Gołaniecko-Wągrowiecka” [Vale of the River Wełna and Gołańcz-Wągrowiec Channel]. Eighty individual trees, boulders and tree groups are protected here as nature manuments.
The area of the Oborniki Forest District is crossed by walking paths, cycling tracks and educational nature and forest trails:
1. The trail „Dębowy Las” [Oakwood] was established in the Daniele Sub-District. Along the 6 km long trail there are interesting natural objects related to silviculture and nature conservation. Twelve stops have been mapped on the way. They are located in spots with characteritic objects or natural phenomena.
2. Another trail, know as „Dolina Kończaka”[Kończak Valley] is located in the Kiszewko Sub-District, 1.6 km from Stobnica. It starts at the forest road that connects Stobnica and Boruszyn. The trail is 7.7 km long and includes 12 stops described on information boards. It takes 4-5 hours to walk the whole trail. Beaver is the symbol of the trail. The trail leads along easily accessible paths near the Kończak stream. Tables and benches for rest and recuperation have been provided near the car park and the notcie boards. The proximity of Stobnica is an additional advantage. Stobnica hosts a research unit of the Zoology Department of the August Cieszkowski Agricultural University in Poznań. The unit carries out a research programme on the breeding and restoration of rare and endangered animal species of our fields and forests (wolves, tarpans, black grouses, capercaillies). However, the biggest attraction is the possibility to see wolves kept in a pen and the locally bred Polish horses.
3. The “Nature Protection vs Hunting” ecological education trail has been arranged in the Oborniki Forest District, 1 km from Dąbrówka Leśna. It starts at a hunters' shooting range and includes 14 stops marked with 26 colourful boards. The trail is 1.2 km long. At each stop there are benches and tables, as well as designated firesites.
4. The Rożnowo Sub-District hosts the nature and forest trail of the „Dolina Wełny” [Vale of the Rivera Wełna]. It starts at the Rożnowo railway station. It is 16.5 km long and was designed for horse riding and cycling. To visit the diverse banks of the lower part of Wełna, a horse and cart may be hired. Forest types, their composition and age differences may be observed. Kayaking is available along the lower part of the River Wełna. In fact, this part of the trail makes one of the most attractive kayaking tracks in Poland. Other attractions of the trail include the Milling Museum and an ostrich farm in Jaracz, as well as the national memorial monument near Rożnowo.
5. The cycling track known as the “Reserves in the ring around the Town and Gmina Oborniki” is 90 km long. In fact, it has a shape of a ring around the town and gmina of Oborniki. It starts at the car park next to the swimming pool. It then leads to a sluice on the River Wełna and further on, to the „Słonawy” ichthyological reserve. The trail runs along the vales of the Rivers Wełna and Warta and the Stream Kończak. It crosses 10 reserves.
The Noteć Forest Education Room was opened at the Oborniki Forest District in 2004. After prior telephone arrangements, schools and organised groups, assisted by foresters, may attend lessons here.
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