Szczecin Landscape Park "Beech Forest"

Szczeciński Park Krajobrazowy „Puszcza Bukowa” (the Szczecin Landscape Park "Beech Forest") was established on November 4, 1981, and covers an area of 20,938 hectares, including a buffer zone of 11,842 hectares. It is located in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship, primarily within the Gryfino County, in the municipality of Stare Czarnowo, and partially within the city limits of Szczecin and the municipality of Gryfino. The park lies within the picturesque forests of the Puszcza Bukowa on the Wzgórza Bukowe (Beech Hills) and is part of the Complex of Landscape Parks of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship. The history of conservation in this area dates back to 1889 with the establishment of the Society of Friends of the Beech Forest (Towarzystwo Miłośników Puszczy Bukowej), chaired by Carl Friedrich Meyer. In 1940, the Puszcza Bukowa was designated as a protected landscape area (Landschaftsschutzgebiet), and the first nature reserves were created in 1956. Despite the dissolution of several reserves, such as "Bukowski Wąwóz" (Beech Gorge) and "Nad Wałeckim Stawem" (By the Wałecki Pond) in 1964, the park's significance grew, leading to its establishment as a landscape park in 1981. Within its boundaries, there are 112 natural monuments, including valuable tree specimens, glacial erratics, and helocrene springs. A notable natural feature is the dendrological garden in Glinna, as well as lakes such as Glinna Wielka and Binowskie. Furthermore, the region is rich in historical sites in villages like Binowo and Kołowo, and scenic viewpoints that offer beautiful vistas of the surrounding landscape. In 2007, the area of the Wzgórza Bukowe was included in the Natura 2000 network, highlighting its ecological importance. In 2012, the Complex of Landscape Parks of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship was established, which incorporated the Szczeciński Park Krajobrazowy „Puszcza Bukowa”, confirming the growing interest and commitment to protecting the unique values of this region.