Iris Meadow in Kalety

This woodland meadow in Kalety, between the Miotek district and the town centre on Paderewskiego Street, is officially the ecological site "Purple Moor-Grass Meadow in Kalety". Locals call it the iris meadow because in June it fills with Siberian iris. It makes a short, quiet walk for anyone who wants to see a rare plant in the wild rather than in a garden.

History: protected since 2004

The ecological site was established by Regulation No. 41/2004 of the Silesian Voivode of 16 July 2004, amended in the autumn of the same year. It covers a single forest compartment of 7.49 ha (the 2017 register gives 7.52 ha) on land of the Kalety forest range in the Koszęcin Forest District. The aim of protection is to preserve a wet moor-grass meadow with sites of regionally rare and declining plant species.

What to see

The main attraction is the Siberian iris, which flowers in May and June. The species is strictly protected in Poland and listed as vulnerable on the Polish Red List of plants and fungi. Moor-grass meadows depend on regular mowing – without it they become overgrown with shrubs and forest, and plants such as the iris disappear. According to earlier descriptions of the site, marsh gentian, the sword lily Gladiolus imbricatus and the broad-leaved marsh orchid also grow here.

Tripto tips

The best time to come is June, when the irises are in full bloom. The meadow is wet, so bring wellies or waterproof shoes and stay on the paths to avoid trampling the plants. Picking or digging up the flowers is forbidden and is one of the main threats to the species. In season, check your clothes for ticks after the walk. The meadow itself takes 30–45 minutes, and it is easy to combine with a longer walk in the forests around Kalety.