Śnieżycowy Jar Nature Reserve

Śnieżycowy Jar is a floral nature reserve, established in 1975 to protect one of the few sites of the spring snowflake (Leucojum vernum) in the Greater Poland region. Initially covering an area of 4.21 hectares, the reserve has expanded to 9.52 hectares due to the spread of this plant, with a buffer zone currently spanning 8.94 hectares. The reserve is located in the Starczanowo forest district, within the municipality of Murowana Goślina, in the Poznań County. The snowflakes grow in the undergrowth of a lowland hornbeam forest, along the banks of a stream in a fairly steep ravine. There are speculations that the snowflakes may have been planted here by humans in the late 19th century. The reserve is home to approximately 20 species of trees and shrubs, including the northern red oak and the field maple, with the age of the tree stand ranging from 20 to 120 years. In addition to the snowflake, the undergrowth features common hepatica, wood anemone, and yellow star-of-Bethlehem. A tourist trail runs through the reserve, accessible from Starczanowo and Uchorowo, and the nearby Wilczy Equestrian Trail makes this area an attractive destination for tourists and nature enthusiasts. The reserve is under partial protection, safeguarding not only its vegetation but also the rich fauna within this unique ecosystem.