Adam Wodziczko Park in Poznań

In the Sołacz district, between Wielkopolska Avenue and the Bogdanka valley, lies a park best known for its avenue of silver maples. Adam Wodziczko Park covers more than 7 hectares and has over 2,000 trees of 54 species, and its patron was a naturalist who initiated three of Poland's national parks.

History and patron

The area was landscaped and the park laid out in 1971–1972. It is named after Adam Wodziczko (1887–1948) – a biologist and botanist, professor at Poznań University, who in 1925 founded the League for Nature Conservation in Greater Poland and Pomerania. He initiated the creation of the Wielkopolska, Wolin and Słowiński National Parks, and after the war established Poland's first independent Department of Nature Conservation and Landscape Management. The park is part of Poznań's western green wedge and merges with Sołacki Park to the west.

What to see

Besides the silver maple avenue there are limes, oaks, black poplars and alders, while plum trees have spread in from nearby allotments. Along the Bogdanka stream grow wild plants such as wild angelica, great willowherb and hedge bindweed. In the northern part of the park, the water utility Aquanet Retencja has put up six panels of the educational trail "Bogdanka River Valley". They explain how the Bogdanka affects the city, whether it has always flowed in this bed and why its valley acts as natural flood protection.

For families

The park has a playground, a football pitch and an outdoor gym, as well as a designated dog-walking area. It is a public green space with no tickets or opening hours, so it is easy to drop in for a short walk with children.

Tripto tip

The park itself takes 30–45 minutes, longer with children at the playground. The nicest walk follows the Bogdanka valley westwards into neighbouring Sołacki Park with its ponds. Trams 9 and 11 and buses 160, 164 and 191 stop nearby; check line numbers before you set off.