Nature

Uroczysko Buczyna and the Fused Pines in Chorzów

Uroczysko Buczyna on the south-western edge of Chorzów is a forest of over 65 ha, designated a nature-landscape complex in December 2001. It is a fragment of the protective forest belt of the Upper Silesian Industrial Region which, despite the proximity of mines, has kept its natural character.

The Fused Pines

The symbol of the forest are the Fused Pines — two trees that joined their branches, creating a distinctive bridge shaped like the letter H between their trunks, and then kept growing tall. The landmark is so unusual that it has its own name and is marked on maps.

Nature and traces of mining

The old beech stand is about 150 years old and individual beeches exceed 200 cm in girth — there may be as many as 300 such trees here. Hornbeam, black alder and sycamore maple reach over 350 cm. A curiosity is the pond with dead trees — a body of water formed as a result of coal extraction at the KWK Wujek Ruch Śląsk mine. Among protected plants you will find deadly nightshade, broad-leaved helleborine or the stinkhorn fungus, and among 38 breeding bird species the buzzard, tawny owl and black woodpecker.

Practical information

Access is via Gościnna Street from the direction of Chorzów Batory or Katowice; cars can be left at a small free car park before the railway tracks. The green PTTK Szlak Dwudziestopięciolecia trail runs through the forest. In wet seasons rubber boots come in handy.