Educational nature trails in the Municipal Woods
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The nature trail begins at the intersection of several streets: Sienkiewicza, Ogrodowa, Kraszeweskiego and Miarki. The entrance to the “Municipal Woods on the Puńcówka” nature reserve is situated beside the grounds of the Kraszewskiego Street children’s home, built in 1898. Before entering the nature reserve it is worth noticing the beautiful and majestic common beech, of the purple-leaved variety Fagus silvatica ‘Atropurpurea’ (photo) growing within the garden of the children’s home at the corner of the perimeter fence, as viewed from Krawszewskiego St. This tree stands around 15 metres tall, with a finely shaped symmetrical head. A characteristic feature of this variety of beech is the dark purple or dark red colour of its leaves. This specimen has slightly less colourful leaves, which may suggest it grew from a seed – intense colouring is typical mainly of trees grown vegetatively. In 1993, the magnificent beech in the garden of the children’s home was declared a protected natural monument. It then had a circumference of 259 cm, and its age is estimated at around 100 years.
Opposite the beech, on the corner of Kraszewskiego and Ogrodowa streets, there stands a tree which is rarely found in Poland – the three-thorned honey locust Gleditschia triacanthos (photo) of South American origin. Honey locusts can also be seen in Cieszyn in the square in front of the Mickiewicz Theatre. This tree has small leaves, pinnate in form, a long reddish brown crown of up to 8cm and thick bunch-shaped inflorescences. Its fruit is highly decorative – brown pods, curved in a sickle shape of up to 40 cm in length.
An official red plaque informs us that we have entered a protected nature reserve – “Nature Reserve Protected by Law”. The reserve was set up in 1961 for the protection and conservation of the hacquetia (Hacquetia epipactis, photo) population which grows in the hail forest covering an area of 6.96 ha (order of the Ministry of Forestry and Timber Industry, the Polish Monitor no. 87 from 1961, item 371).
A short alleyway begins the trail, running along the fencing of the children’s home. This is planted with beeches (Fagus silvatica) on one side, and common chestnut trees (Aesculus hippocastanum) along the other. Beeches, despite being a native species of tree, were actually introduced artificially into the Municipal Woods. They have a highly characteristic smooth, silver-grey bark and dark green, elliptical, full-edged leaves (photo). New leaves are covered in thick, silky hair whereas older ones have hair only on the underside, on the veins. Most of the beeches, which grow almost exclusively in the part of the reserve nearest the town centre, are rather modestly sized specimens.
The chestnut tree is a species alien to our flora. It occurs naturally on the Balkan Peninsula, and was introduced to the rest of Europe as a decorative tree in the 16th century. It has been grown in Poland since the 17th century and has become one of the most commonly found park trees. Everyone knows its impressive white inflorescences (photo) whose blossoming (V - VII) serves as a reminder to secondary school pupils that their final exams are drawing near. Equally recognisable are its hand-shaped leaves and seeds, namely the conkers so keenly gathered by children. Chestnuts were once used in Turkey to treat asthma and coughs in horses, hence the species’ Latin name of hippocastanum, meaning “horse’s cough”. Chestnuts contain a significant amount of saponins (up to 25%), and for this reason have minor applications in the cosmetics industry (e.g. in shaving creams and washing powders) and in pharmaceuticals (in the production of expectorants). Chestnuts are also scattered by hunting societies in the winter months to provide food for forest animals.
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The alley leads us to the Mieszko I monument. We are now in a part of the reserve which was originally a park. The layout of the park was created at the beginning of the 20th century as surroundings for a monument to the Austro-Hungarian Emperor Franz Josef. This monument was unveiled in 1908 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the emperor’s reign. In 1933, the statue of Franz Josef was replaced with a bronze-cast statue of Mieszko I, prince of Cieszyn. More information on the history of this terrain can be found in the paper prepared for use in cataloguing the monumental parks of the Bielsko region. The monument is situated at the top of a fairly steep rise with 3-go Maja Street running along the bottom. Standing on the edge of the rise and looking along 3-go Maja Street, we can see the Wolności bridge over the river Olza. On both sides of the street before the bridge stand the premises of the “Celma” Electrical Machines Plant.
The terrain around the monument was conceived as part of a park, although it is now difficult to make out the original layout. The network of paths crossing the rise and descending to 3-go Maja Street remains from the period of the park’s inception, as do the stone steps leading to the trail running along the Młynówka, along the western boundary of the reserve.
The foliage of this part of the municipal wood is dominated by the lofty ash Fraxinus excelsior (ill.). The common maple Acer platanoides (ill.), great maple Acer pseudoplatanus(ill.) and fine-leaved lime Tilia cordata (ill.) are also plentiful. Individual specimens of the common pine Pinus silvestris can also be found with its two short, stiff needles growing out from dwarf shoots, as well as the Weymouth pine Pinus strobus. This has long, frail needles, up to five of which grow on each dwarf-shoot. The specimens of both these species of pine which are found in the woods are crooked and their tops are underdeveloped, which shows that the conditions here are inappropriate for such trees to grow, and they should not have been planted here. We can also spot the common oak Quercus robur (ill.) and a few specimens of the common or European larch Larix decidua in the forest stand. The latter is the only native coniferous tree which sheds its needles in winter. In the forest stand covering the rise, as we look towards 3-go Maja Street, we can also distinguish individual specimens of the black alder Alnus glutinosa (ill.), white willow Salix alba and white locust or robinia (also known as false acacia) Robina pseudoacacia (ill.) to the right of the monument. The locust has delicate, feathery leaves and white flowers which hang in bunches (May – June). This species is not native to Poland – it was introduced from North America at the start of the 17th century and has since made itself at home. It reproduces easily, mostly vegetatively from root sprouts. This tree is particularly valued by beekeepers, as well as being commonly planted on sites of environmental degradation, such as slag heaps and rubbish tips. Its close symbiosis with soil bacteria allows the locust to grow on such barren ground. Thanks to its sprawling flat root system, locusts are also planted on slopes where they can help prevent soil erosion.
The different names of this species often lead to confusion. It is often referred to as an acacia, although it has nothing in common with real acacias growing, for example, on the savannah of Africa. One of its botanical names is thus “false acacia” and the Latin word robinia is also used. The Polish version of the name “black locust” means literally “white locust”.
The European elder sambucus negra is the dominant shrub in this part of the reserve, and the common privet Ligustrum vulgare is also to be seen. The privet has dark green leaves, often wintergreen (i.e. not shed in winter) and is popular as a hedge. There are few specimens of hawthorns, and these are mainly single-seed hawthorns Crataegus monogyna (ill.), whose decorative red fruit is the favourite food of many birds. The common snowberry Symphoricarpos albus can also be seen, a well-known species commonly planted in parks. This honey-bearing plant originates from North America, but thrives along with the native flora. Its berries are recognisable to everyone – large, white berries up to 1 cm in diameter, which children love to play with on account of the popping sound they make when trodden on or squashed between the fingers. Also noteworthy is the wild jasmine Philadelphus coronarius. This is another non-native species, occurring naturally from Italy as far as the Caucasus. Since ancient times it has been planted and cultivated for the intense, beautiful aroma of its cream coloured flowers.
Such a wide variety of tree and shrub species growing in such a small area, including a range of non-native ones, is evidence that this section of the reserve on the Puńcówka was once planted as a park. This former park is currently neglected and is gradually returning to the wild – the area was not originally a forest, but it is being colonised by tree species typical of one.
The ground cover is rather sparse and not too interesting from a botanical point of view. It is, however, worth taking a look at the slope around the monument. This terrain is partly covered with meadow foliage including a large amount of forest plants, which are slowly beginning to take over the scarp. Among the most eyecatching plants here are the common and popular daisies Bellis perennis, which bloom from March to November with leaves gathered at ground level into a flat-lying “rosette”, this species’ way of adapting to survival in places which have been grazed or mown. Another species growing on the scarp is the runnered buttercup Ranunculus repens (ill.), which forms runners – ground level shoots by which the plant spreads (this is one means of vegetative reproduction). Similar runers are formed by the carpet bugle Ajuga reptans (photo) – a short (up to 30 cm) plant with crinkled lower leaves and sessile stem leaves gathered into a rosette and blue flowers growing on the upper part of the stem in fake whorls. The meadow cuckoo fower Cardamine pratensis (photo) is also noteworthy with its white or pale violet flowers (IV – VI). This plant is an indicator species, growing only in damp places and thus reflecting high levels of ground water in the areas where it appears. The cuckoo flower can also be used medicinally, containing as it does mustard glicocides, and its young leaves may be eaten as a salad.
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We may begin our visit to the reserve from under the monument by following either of two trails - down the slope via the stone steps and then along the Młynówka by the so-called lower trail, or by the upper trail which runs along the eastern edge of the reserve. We suggest taking the second of these options and heading off along the track following the perimeter fence of the children’s home, then along by the adjacent premises of the Customs Office. On the right hand side, on a slope which begins steep and becomes more gentle, stands a fairly typical forest. There is no clearly visible boundary between this forest and the grounds of the former park around the Mieszko I monument. Behind the Customs building, to the left of the trail, a small part of the reserve stands directly adjacent to Kraszewskiego St. Until recently, the forest was made up predominantly of elms – mainly witch elms Ulmus glabra (ill.) and field elms Ulmus minor. The leaves of both of these species are asymmetrical at the base, and their fruits are winged – small seeds surrounded by a “cloak” of tissue which acts as a wing and carries them through the air. The elms in the reserve are unfortunately dying out owing to the spread of Dutch Elm Disease, which is caused by the fungus Ceratocystis ulmi (= Ophiostomo nova) carried by two species of bark beetles. There is at present no known cure for this disease, and it rapidly leads to the death of the infected tree (the hyphae of the fungus clog up the vessels which enable water bearing mineral salts to be transported). An infected tree must be felled immediately and its branches and bark burned at a safe distance from land where other elms grow. In 2003, over 100 elms died as a result of grafiosis infection, including some magnificent handsome specimens of monumental proportions.
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On the right hand side of the trail, the majority of trees are ashes. The undergrowth is very thick in places and consists mainly of wild elders. The elder has a large umbelliferous inflorescence of up to 20 cm in diameter (VI – VII) consisting of small white or cream flowers with a strong soapy smell. The wild elder is also known in Poland as doctor’s elder, as an infusion of its dried leaves is used as a sweating agent and throat rinse. Its fruit – black seedpods of a similar build to cherries – is used in wine production to improve the bouquet and give a better colour, and it is also made into juices and jams. The elder prefers fertile soil rich in nitrogen compounds and calcium. It is a species which spreads quickly and is difficult to fight – when cut it systematically grows back from the roots. Redcurrant bushes Ribes rubrum can also be made out among the layer of shrubs, as can gooseberries Ribes uva-crispa (= Ribes grossularia – ill.). The redcurrant is a defenceless species, lacking thorns, with red acidic fruit. The gooseberry, on the other hand, has thorns of various sizes on its stems. Its fruits are green and hairy.
Both of these species of shrub are native to Poland, and are grown in an assortment of garden varieties. It is difficult to state with any certainty whether the gooseberry and redcurrant plants are growing naturally in the Woods, or whether they are “garden escapees”, plants which grew at first in gardens and then, in the form of fruits or shoot fragments, found their way into the reserve and have returned to the wild in conditions close to those in which they occur naturally. The latter explanation would appear to be the more probable.
In early spring, the wood anemone Anemone nemorosa (photo) is one of the first flowers to bloom on the forest floor. These have white flowers (III – IV) and three hand-shaped leaves, and generally grow in large groups, forming wide flower blankets. It is a so-called pollen plant, producing large amounts of pollen which is an important source of food for the insects which pollinate it. The seeds (tiny nuts) have small growths known as elaiosomes, which contain proteins and fats. Ants are happy to eat these, and in doing so they sow the seeds of the anemones – this process is known as myrmekochoria. Early spring is also the time when the figroot buttercup Ramunculus ficaria (= Ficaria verna – ill.) with its yellow crown petals (III – V) blooms, when the leaves of trees and shrubs are still not yet fully grown and the forest floor is well lit by the rays of the sun. The figroot buttercup grows horizontally and is able to attach itself to the ground with roots growing in knots. Figroot buttercups grow in dense concentrations. They have glossy heart-shaped leaves, and tubers may form on the lower corners of these – small whitish bulbs serving vegetative reproduction. The figroot buttercup was once eaten and used in medicine, partly because of the high vitamin C content in young leaves which were used to treat scabies.
A little later, tightly wound leaves appear, looking at first like spearheads growing out of the ground. These are shoots of common Solomon’s seal Polygonatum multiflorum (photo). In their full glory, these are stems bent into an arch, with elliptical leaves covering two sides. From the corners of the leaves, white bell-shaped flowers hang downwards on long stalks (IV – VI). Owing to their shape, they can be pollinated almost exclusively by long-tongued bumblebees.
Bear’s garlic Allium ursinum (photo) also grows in large colonies in the early spring. This is a plant with long spear-shaped leaves and umbelliferous inflorescences of white flowers (IV – VI). In this part of the reserve, bear’s garlic does not appear in particularly large clusters, but even so its intense garlic smell is evident in the area. This plant contains large amounts of essential oils and vitamin C, and has many uses in herbal medicine. It usually grows in damp places and is sometimes considered an indicator plant – its presence indicates a high level of ground waters.
In May, when the early spring plants are nearing the end of their blooming time and the leaves of trees and shrubs please our eyes with their fresh green, other plants begin to bloom, including the hairy buttercup Ranunculus lanuginosus (photo) with its yellow flowers (V – VI). This species is to be found growing in practically every part of the reserve, and its name comes from the thick hair covering its leaves and stem. It is poisonous. Another plant found all over the reserve, although not in such large numbers, is hedge garlic Alliaria officinalis (photo) with white, peaked flowers (V – VI) and heart-shaped leaves. Just like bear’s garlic, this plant also has a garlic smell, and simply lightly rubbing the leaves will bring it out. The wood avens Geum urbanum (ill.) is also to be found all over the reserve, with its inconspicuous golden yellow flowers (V – IX). This plant prefers damp, nitrogen-rich soils. The rootstocks of the avens, which contain essential oils smelling like cloves, were once used as a substitute for that spice. The avens has applications in herbal medicine, e.g. in treating diseases of the digestive system and the liver. The common goatweed Aegopodium podagraria (ill.) is also common throughout the reserve. It forms large umbels of small white flowers (V – IX). The common goatweed is a tenacious garden weed which was once used to treat gout and rheumatic illnesses, hence its Polish, Latin and English species name of goutweed.
All the plants mentioned above are typical forest species which find their optimal conditions for growth in forests, although they are also to be found in other environments. The common goatweed grows in meadows and in gardens, for example. From spring until September, the forest floor in this part of the reserve is dominated by large plants (reaching a height of up to a metre) with whorls of white flowers, downy leaves and fruit of a shape reminiscent of cumin seeds. There are three very similar species which look like this: rough chervil Anthriscus silvestris, wild chervil Chaerophyllum temulentum and hairy chervil Chaerophyllum hirsutum (ill.). All of these appear in a wide range of places – they can be found in forests, meadows and gardens, in damp, nitrogen-rich soils. It is only in this part of the Woods by the Puńcówka that they form such dense clusters and have the greatest visual impact on the forest floor’s appearance.
From here on, we will also be accompanied by the common ivy Hedera helix (photo). This species enjoys total legal protection. Ivy usually forms a carpet and thickly covers the soil so that it is only evident here and there that this is one of our lianae (creepers), which uses shoots and grasping roots to climb up tree trunks. Ivy flowers in autumn (IX – XI) and its fruit, black berries, do not ripen until spring (III – IV). No specimens of ivy have yet been seen flowering within the grounds of the Puńcówka reserve. In Cieszyn it can be seen flowering in such places as the Castle Hill, the municipal cemetery and the Jewish cemetery.
Another species which is legally protected (although only partly) is wild ginger Asarum europaeum (photo), a very common plant with leathery wintergreen leaves. Its purple-green flowers (III – V) are shaped like bells and hidden under leaves. They attract pollinating insects (ants) with their smell of rotting meat.
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About 200 metres further on, the path leads into a small square with benches, a leftover from an attempt to give the municipal woods a more park-like character. Stone steps lead down from this square to the lower trail along the Młynówka.
The square has relatively few visitors and is gradually being overgrown with the vegetation typical of places which have been trampled. Plantains grow here – both the common Plantago maior (ill.) and the buckhorn Plantago lanceolata (ill.). These are commonly appearing synanthropic plants, meaning that they accompany man, growing in places where humans have destroyed the natural plant cover. Plantains are cosmopolitan species, appearing in a wide range of different habitats and are considered as ruderal weeds, in other words they occur in yards, at roadsides and in places created and maintained thanks to human activity, whether deliberately or not. The leaves of both species of plantain contain slimy substances and tannins, and in earlier times were shredded and used as a compress in the treatment of fractures and cuts. Similar places are also home to the self-heal Prunella vulgaris (ill.), with its blue-violet inflorescences (VI – IX) in the shape of ears of corn. This small plant forms runners and its seeds are spread autogenously using a mechanism activated by raindrops. The annual meadowgrass Poa annua (ill.) is extremely resistant to environmental changes and grows more or less anywhere in well-lit places. This small grass species (reaching heights of 2 – 30 cm) grows in loose clusters, often forming large turfs. We continue our walk along the path in the company of other common species as well as those already mentioned. We see for example the common chickweed Stellaria media (ill.), a typical cosmopolitan plant appearing in a range of places and with the ability to thrive in a variety of environments. This is a plant with delicate white flowers which bloom practically all year round. The common dandelion Taraxacum officinale is known to everybody – it contains a high level of lactic juices and its seeds are spread by the wind (anemochoria). The fine fluff on the seeds forms a kind of parachute, and a light gust of wind is enough to blow the flower head apart and send the seeds flying off over a considerable distance. We can also see upright yellow sorrel Oxalis stricta (ill.) in the little square and along the trail. This has small, bright yellow flowers (VI – IX), red concentrates of stalks and leaves similar to those of clover. It is a species carried across from North America, mainly occurring in gardens, but also able to grow in cracks in stone walls. We head off out of the square along the upper path, which leads along the the premises of the Agricultural and Technical School.
From the late 19th century, the present school buildings housed Austrian army barracks, but after the First World War they were given over to education. The Rural Farming College was based here from 1922 until 1950 when it was transferred to Olsztyn (it is currently the Agricultural Academy).
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It is worth turning our attention to the highly regular arrangement of trees in the forest stand – the dominant ashes grow at regular distances from one another (photo). This is the clearest evidence we have that certain of the forest areas in the reserve were planted by hand, created by man.
The ground cover in this area is characteristic of felled areas, or disturbed or devastated sites. The forest floor is dominated in places by the European dewberry Rubus caesiu. This is a very aggressive plant which rapidly and actively takes over new terrain and drowns out other species, growing at up to five centimetres daily – an impressive rate in the plant world. The dewberry has inconspicuous white flowers (V – IX), its fruits are frosted ashen grey and composed of a small number of large seed pods. The European raspberry Rubus idaeus occurs far more rarely in the reserve, with its aromatic red fruit and upright, non-creeping shoots.
The undergrowth is dominated by the elder, which grows exceptionally densely in places, but there are other shrubs in evidence. Apart from the single-seed hawthorn, the common hawthorn Crataegus laevigata (ill.) can also be found here, as can a few specimens of the spindle tree Euonymus europaeus (ill.), with its young green branches, inconspicuous flowers (V – VI) and attractive-looking fruit which ripens (IX – X) – beret-shaped seed-bags of a pink or crimson-red colour, the seeds have orange grains. Beware – these fruit are poisonous. There are also specimens of the legally protected alder buckthorn Frangula alnus (ill.), whose black berries are also poisonous and whose bark has cleansing properties and the common dogwood Cornus sanguinea (ill.) which can be found in the undergrowth around the monument. The branches of this plant are reddish when young, olive-brown when older, and its white flowers are gathered in fairly large umbrel clusters of up to 7 cm in diameter (V - VI). We may also come across hazel bushes Corylus avellana (ill.), which bloom (II – IV) long before their leaves have developed and whose fruit is the edible hazel nut. There are very few examples here of the may rose Viburnum opulus (photo.), a protected species with an impressive inflorescence up to 10 cm in diameter consisting of two kinds of flowers – large infertile flowers arranged around the perimeter whose task is to attract pollinating insects, and smaller flowers inside the inflorescence containing the reproductive organs.
In those parts of the ground cover not dominated by the dewberry, more and more forest plants are to be found. These include the yellow star-of-Bethlehem Gagea lutea (photo), which flowers as early as March (III – V). This small plant generally has a single butt-end leaf and several star-shaped, yellow flowers (yellow-green on the underside). The common lungwort Pulmonaria officinalis (photo) is also to be found here – this is an early spring plant (III – IV), whose flowers contain anthocyanins and change colour from red to blue-violet according to their age. The name lungwort (and the Latin pulmonaria, from pulmonis = lungs) comes from one of this species’ main characteristics – its application in the treatment of lung disorders. Dog’s mercury Mercurialis perennis (ill.) grows in clumps and has unassuming single-sex flowers (IV – V). This is a two-trunked plant – each individual specimen has either all-male or all-female flowers. Although dog’s mercury is poisonous, the plant is used in herbalism, as its contents also include saponins and essential oils. A relative rarity here is the little wood violet Viola reichenbachiana (photo) with its heart-shaped leaves and flowers (IV – VI) blooming from dark violet to bright blue. Nectar flows into the flower’s dark violet spur where it waits as a reward for pollinating insects. Its seeds have appendages rich in fats and protein, which makes attractive food for ants which also spread the seeds (myrmekochoria).
A particularly impressively flowering plant is the hallow root Corydalis bulbosa (photo), not too numerous in this part of the reserve. This is a small plant which forms a bunch of around 20 purple-red (or more rarely white) flowers (III – V) at the end of its stem. These have a long spur, at the bottom of which lies nectar to attract bumble-bees. The length of the spurs ensures that only long-tongued bumble-bees can reach the nectar, and only they can effectively pollinate the hallow root’s flowers. If, however, we take a closer look at the flowers, we notice that some of the spurs have small holes right at the bottom. When a bumble-bee cannot reach the nectar with its tongue, it will nibble through the wall with its mandibles and “steal” the nectar without taking part in the pollination process. The tuberous comfrey Symphytum tuberosum (photo) begins to bloom a little later (IV - VI). This is a plant which can grow up to 50 cm tall, has hairy leaves and stem and pale yellow hanging flowers, shaped rather like bells. Bear’s garlic grows in large colonies here and there to the exclusion of other plant species, and its intense, strong smell announces its presence from a considerable distance.
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Following the path on the right hand side we have the forest, and on the left is the open space of the garden in the grounds of the school. At the point where these two habitats meet, an environment has formed which houses an amazing variety of species – this is known as an ecotonic or transitory environment. Thanks to the unique properties of this habitat (or biotop), both plants which require full sunlight (meadow species) and those preferring greater shade and moisture (forest species) are able to thrive here.
Plantains and self-heals belong to the heliophilous plants, as do the coltsfoot Tussilago farfara, whose flowers (golden-yellow baskets, III – IV) announce the coming of spring. The coltsfoot’s inflorescences react to changes in sunlight levels and close up when the sky is clouded over – a phenomenon known as photonastia. It is only after the flowers have stopped blooming that the fairly large butt-end leaves begin to develop. These are covered on their underside with white hairlets which form a thick, compact layer or nap. The coltsfoot has applications in herbal medicine to treat inflammations, coughs and bronchial catarrh. Three species of deadnettles can be found here in abundance. The spotted deadnettle Lamium maculatum (photo), with its ridged purple flowers (IV – IX) and triangular ovoid leaves, is considered a forest species and appears almost everywhere in the reserve. A smaller (up to 30 cm tall) but very similar plant is the red deadnettle Lamium purpureum. This has smaller purple flowers (III – XI) which grow at the end of the stem, lightly downy leaves and generally red concentrated stalks. The red deadnettle is a ruderal species which grows by roadsides, along paths and in places created or shaped in deifferent ways by man. The white deadnettle Lamium album (ill.) is another species of this type, appearing more or less universally in ruderal, barren and infertile places. It is difficult to distinguish it from a nettle, as it is of similar build and its leaves are almost the same shape. The white deadnettle does not sting, but can effectively fool both animals (which do not eat it) and humans – hence the name dead nettle. This is an example of a phenomenon commonly encountered in nature, whereby a defenceless species adapts itself to be similar to a better protected or armed one – in the case of plants, this means defence against being eaten or picked, in the form of spines, needles, stinging hairs or poisonous substances. It is only when they flower that the difference between nettles and deadnettles becomes obvious – the white deadnettle forms whorls of many fairly large white flowers (IV – X). The stinging nettle Urtica dioica grows in large numbers along the trail, reaching a height of up to 1.5 metres. The nettle is an example of a plant which defends itself aggressively against eating and picking, etc. Its leaves and stalks are covered in fine brittle hairs, something like shards of silicon, which snap even at the most delicate touch. Their sharp ends easily stick into the skin, and the stinging, irritating substance they contain gets into the wound and causes nasty itching, rashes and blisters. People consider the nettle a weed, and mercilessly try to exterminate it from their immediate environment. Nature, however, does not recognise the idea of ‘weeds’, every species has its own strictly defined place and fulfills an important function in the ecosystem. Humans once exploited the nettle in spinning, nowadays it is used in herbal medicine and even in preparing salads from its young leaves before they become ‘stingy’. The nettle is also a source of food for some commonly found species of buterflies. The peacock butterfly Inachis io, red admiral Vanessa ata-lanta and nettle butterfly Aglais urticae lay their eggs on the leaves of nettles, where their caterpillars later develop. These butterflies take advantage of the situation where they do not have to compete with other animals for food – they have it available, and the stinging needles do not harm them. Destruction of nettles may mean limiting the number of butterflies whose colourful wings we find so enchanting.
We can also encounter the edible or bull thistle Cirsium oleraceus along the trail. This can grow to a height of up to 1.5 metres, and it has yellow-white baskets of flowers at the top of its stem (VI – IX). Its lower leaves are usually pinnate in form, and its inflorescence surrounded by pale green leaves with soft prickles around the edges. The hogweed cow parsnip Heracleum sphondylium (ill.) also grows here – a large plant of up to 2 metres in height, which belongs to the carrot family and forms a large umbrel of small white flowers (VI – X). We will not, though, come across any flowering specimens on the reserve, and the parsnip can be recognised by its large pinnate leaves of up to 40 cm in length with darker, troughed tails. Another forest species which grows in shaded places is the small balsam Impatiens parviflora (photo), which originates in Asia and was originally introduced as a garden plant. It is now completely domesticated and is even forcing out some native species in places. Its fruit is an elongated seed-bag which bursts when touched and shoots out seeds with great force to a distance of 3.4 metres or more. This is an example of autochoria – individual seed spreading by plants, using methods which are often complex, not relying on animals, water or the wind to carry seeds. The Latin name Im¬patiens means ‘do not touch’. When the air humidity is high, we can see droplets of water on the rims of the leaves – this is called gutation, the process of plants giving off water in liquid form rather then, as is usual, as water vapour by transpiration.
Among the grasses along the trail, we also encounter perennial ryegrass Lolium perenne (ill.), a small meadow and roadside species of plant which grows in clumps, as well as wood millet Milium effusum (ill.) - a typical kind of forest grass which grows up to a metre tall. In spring, the wild strawberry Fragaria vesca also grows in places well-lit by the sun. This is a very common plant in the reserve, with small white flowers (IV – VI), three-segmented leaves which are downy on the underside, and bright red aromatic fruit, or more strictly speaking clumps of fruit. This plant is the ancestor of the species so popularly grown in gardens. One plant which blooms from late spring until the end of summer is the false crowfoot Gera¬nium robertianum (ill.), which has pinnate leaves, reddish lashed stems and small pink or red flowers (V – IX), and which gives off an unpleasant smell. The genus name Geranium means ‘crane’s beak’ and refers to the cleavage shape of the fruit. The mature cleavage of the crowfoot bursts into five parts, throwing out seeds as far as 6 metres (autochoria).
Most of the plants whose flowers appeared before the leaves came out on the trees stop blooming in June. Now it is the summer species which decorate themselves with flowers. These include the wood knotroot Stachys silvatica (photo) with its dark purple flowers (VI – IX) gathered in a peaked inflorescence, and the bats-in-the-belfry Campanula trachelium (photo) with its large blue (occasionally white) flowers and leaves growing out of the corners, which are reminiscent in shape of nettle leaves. The Fuchs groundsel Senecio fuchsii (photo) can reach a great size. This species, which has lancetted leaves and yellow baskets of inflorescences, favours well-illuminated places and so as well as in clear forests it can be encountered in felled areas and along streams. The sticky sage Salvia glutinosa (photo) is recognisable by its bright dirty-yellow flowers (VII – IX) and its glandularly haired stem and leaves. It is a large plant which can reach as much as a metre in height, and is commonly found throughout the Puńcówka Woods. The enchanter’s nightshade Circaea lutetiana (photo) begins to bloom in July – its flowers are small, white and inconspicuous (VII – IX). Its small ovate fruit, covered in stiff, hooked hairs, ripen in autumn. They stick to the fur or feathers of animals and birds, and to people’s clothes, and in this way the seeds can be carried across a considerable distance. This process is known as zoochoria (seeds being spread with the help of animals) or anthropochoria (by people).
After walking another 100 metres or so along the trail, we notice that the regular arrangement of the ashes disappears and the forest becomes a lot more variegated. More and more maples, elms and limes can be seen in the forest stand, and hornbeams Carpinus betulus (ill.) also begin to appear. This tree has a highly characteristic smooth, ashen-grey bark with dark blotches. The shape of its leaves is similar to those of the beech, but with slightly corrugated edges. The hornbeam’s fruit is a small nut with a three-flapped wing. We can also see numerous common maples Acer campestre (ill.) also known as hedge maples, both as small trees and in shrub form.
Also visible on the ground cover are logs, old trunks and broken boughs and twigs. These have an important role to play in the forest’s ecosystem, since a tree trunk lying dead is a huge reservoir of water and source of bioelements which in future will fuel the plants growing alongside it. Logs lying on steep slopes help prevent soil erosion. These are also home to a variety of small animal species – various insects, arthropods and arachnids – as well as plants and fungi (photo). A forest deprived of such places becomes impoverished, loses some of the diversity of its species and habitats. Old hollow and decaying trees are of similar importance to the forest, housing a range of insects and providing a nesting place for birds. Leaving them in the woods ensures that the balance will be maintained in the forest environment, and that the woods will become more stable and immune to unfavourable conditions and factors.
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After about 250 metres, the trail reaches a deep ravine which bisects the reserve. A small bridge leads across the ravine, and wooden and earthen steps follow the edge of the ravine down to the lower path. Water only periodically flows in the ravine, but it still seems a dark and damp place. On the bed of the ravine, apart from a large number of mouldering logs and branches, we can often unfortunately also see litter and rubble. Thanks to the specific conditions of damp and shade which dominate here, the slopes are home to the only colony of glandular toothwort Dentaria glandulosa (photo) in the Puńcówka reserve.The toothwort blossoms in early spring (III – IV), and it has violet flowers and usually 1 to 3 fingered leaves. Although this is regarded as being basically a mountain species, it also appears in lower locations, such as the Carpathian Foothills. Just beside the lower trail, at the mouth of the ravine, we can also see the yellow wood anemone Anemone ranunculoides (photo). This is very similar to the wood anemone which grows all over the reserve, except that it forms yellow flowers (III – V).
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We cross the bridge to the other side of the ravine. The trail turns right and follows the slope. In springtime we can see beside the path, on a fairly steep slope, a rare but very interesting plant – the toothworr Lathraea squamaria (photo). A short, fleshy stem grows above the surface of the ground, covered in scales and, along one side, flowers. The entire plant is pink and does not contain chlorophyll, it is thus unable to photosynthesise. The toothworr is a parasite – a so-called total parasite, since it is a plant incapable of independently creating nutrients, and must draw these from the roots of its host, which can be various trees and shrubs. The part which is visible above ground constitutes only a small portion of the whole plant – under the ground there is also a rhizome which can weigh up to 5 kilograms!
Equally well-known is the white mistletoe Viscum album, another parasite species which lives on other plants in the Puńcówka Woods. This, however, is only a semi-parasite, since it only draws water and mineral substances from its host plants, and carries out its own photosynthesis. Mistletoe lives on the boughs and branches of trees, and its fruit is a white or yellowish berry with a sticky, gummy pulp. The fruit is eaten by birds which then spread the mistletoe seeds. Mistletoe has healing properties, although it is also a poisonous species.
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The trail turns left and for a few dozen metres will lead through two clearly differing forest habitats. To the left, coniferous trees make up a large part of the forest stand – the common spruce Picea abies and the larch. The undergrowth consists almost entirely of elders, while the ground cover is dominated in places by blackberries, whose long shoots grow over parts of the path.
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On the right hand side, the forest looks completely different – it is part of the Carpinetum dry-ground forest. This means that the forest stand is mainly made up of hornbeams, plus limes, maples, elms, oaks and sometimes ashes and beeches. All the species already mentioned are to be found in the undergrowth. The ground cover is rich and very diverse in terms of species. This kind of forest grows on fertile, damp soils. The Cieszyn Foothills were once mostly covered with dry-ground forests, but considering the type of habitat these were cut down and in their place now stand arable fields, meadows and pastures. The forests survived as small, isolated mid-field woods, mainly growing in places which are unsuitable or exceptionally dificult to farm – on steep slopes, along ravines and sometimes on the sides of valleys and streams.
The ash, which was once very common, is now no longer the dominant species in the forest stand. In this part of the reserve we encounter all of the trees already mentioned, with the exception of the conifers. The undergrowth is rich in different species, but practically nowhere is it as thick as it was in some of the previous sections of the reserve where, for example, the elder formed a dense thicket, often almost totally blocking out the sunlight and preventing the forest floor layer of vegetation from developing.
Until now, the nature trail has led through fragments of the woods which were not fully formed dry-ground forest. There was an abundance of non-forest species and an unusual amount of unfavourable conditions such as the dominance in some places of heliophylous plants, or plants typical of felled areas. These fragments of the forest are only now being colonised by a majority of dry-ground forest species. A process is thus taking place which is resulting in a forest environment forming over an area formerly deforested and now planted with trees. It is probable that forest species survived in the part of the reserve in which we now stand, and which perhaps was never deforested. These plants could thus move into neighbouring terrains as soon as conditions arose which would enable them to survive, such as development of a layer of trees. The process of changes in the biocenosis (the system of plant and animal organisms living in a given area and closely linked with one another) taking place in a particular order and leading ultimately to the establishment of a habitat is called ecological succession. This process is under way in the Puńcówka Woods, and should result in a dry-ground forest forming in the future, covering the entire area of the reserve.
In the shrub layer, we can see the fly honeysuckle Lonicera xylosteum. The honeysuckle has hollow branches, lightly downy leaves and inconspicuous white flowers, often pinkish around the edges (V – VI). Its fruit are scarlet red poisonous berries which ripen in late summer, growing in pairs along the long leaf stalks (photo).
The forest floor, especially in spring, is extraordinarily rich and aesthetically pleasing – a whole range of early spring species flower then. The wood anemone forms great thick colonies, and smaller clusters grow of honeywort, hallow-root and common Solomon’s seal. At the same time, the small number of protected species to be found in the reserve also flower. As soon as the snow has gone, the common snowdrop Galanthus nivalis (photo) is the first to bloom (II – IV) with its white flowers hanging from the top of its stem, and its narrow leaves. This is a very attractive and popular plant, which is why it has been practically wiped out near the town, in spite of being under total legal protection. The rare clusters of snowdrops in the woods are perhaps garden plants which have returned to the wild. The snowdrop’s flowers close up when the temperature falls, and reopen when it rises – this phenomenon is called thermonastia. Another well-known species is the primrose Primula elatior (photo), which has sulphur-yellow bell-shaped flowers (III – V) and fleshy, hairy leaves. These are also popular and unfortunately often thoughtlessly picked, despite being partially protected. A specific trait of the primrose flowers is their heterostylia – the differing lengths of their pistils and stamen which makes the biologically undesirable process of self-pollination impossible.
The hacquetia Hacquetia epipactis (photo) is one of the first spring plants whose flowers develop. The hacquetia generally flowers in March, although scientific literature records cases of it blooming in the second half of February! First of all, yellow-green inflorescences appear on the leafless stem, which can be up to 20 cm in length. These are inflorescences as the hacquetia is an umbrelliferous plant and forms a typical umbrel. What are usually assumed to be the petals are in fact a false floration formed from green packing, in other words adapted leaves (usually between 5 and 7). The actual flowers themselves are very small, yellow and fill the inside of the umbrell. The leaves, hand-shaped and on long stalks, appear later. The hacquetia finishes blooming relatively quickly, and by May or June produces its fruit so that in summer, all that remains to be seen are clusters of leaves. These are not always easy to spot in the thicket of other plants, but with a bit of effort can be made out thanks to their slightly shining leaf blades.
It was for these very plants that the Puńcówka and Olza Municipal Woods nature reserves were created. These are floral reserves, intended to conserve the hacquetia population along with its habitat, which is the dry-ground forest. Within the Puńcówka reserve, the hacquetia appears virtually exclusively in the southernmost part from the ravine with the bridge in the direction of Błogocka and Puńcówki Streets. Before this, at a distance of 20 to 30 metres before the ravine, there are only just over a dozen modest clusters of hacquetia in the central part of the slope, and these can be seen by walking along the lower path along the Młynówka. The hacquetia clearly only appears in those parts of the Puńcówka Woods which can be considered to be in a nearly natural state, it does not appear in the part planted at the turn of the 20th century. Over several years of observation it has been noticed that the hacquetia is dying out in those places where the shrub layer is at its thickest and most compressed and the ground cover heavily shaded. At the same time, the hacquetia does not tolerate places completely exposed to the sun either.
Besides the hacquetia, the bitter pea-vine Lathyrus vernus (photo) also blooms majestically in spring (IV – V). This plant usually forms 3 to 8 flowers which vary in colour from dark violet through blue-violet to blue-green depending on the age and development of the flowers (a similar process can be observed in honeyworts). It is very rare to come across an isopyrum Isopyrum thalictroides (ill. 50), with its fairly large white flowers (IV – V). The wood spurge Euphorbia amygdaloides (photo) flowers at the same time (IV – VI) – this is a wintergreen plant. In spring, a branched inflorescence of originally shaped yellow flowers grows out from the head of the thickly foliated, lignified stems. The sweet spurge Euphorbia dulcis (photo) blooms simultaneously with the wood spurge (IV – V), and this has an upright stem and lancetted leaves. The entire plant is pale green, apart from its yellowish flowers. Spurges produce a whitish lactic juice which contains poisonous substances acting as irritants on the skin. The weaselsnout deadnettle Lamiastrum galeobdolon (ill.), which grows everywhere in the reserve, is reminiscent of the white deadnettle but produces golden yellow flowers (IV – VII). The weaselsnout often has long, creeping runners and can in places form a thick carpet.
Another rarity in this part of the reserve is the unusual plant known as the Alpine arum Arum alpinum, which is a protected species. This plant catches the eye with its large, glossy dark green leaves in the shape of an arrowhead (photo). Its inflorescence is very original – it is green and looks rather like a hood on the top of the stem. Its design is connected with its complicated pollinating mechanism, since this is an example of a trap-flower. The rhizomes or rootstocks of the arum are rich in starch and were formerly dried out in times of hunger, ground and added to flour.
As the Alpine arum is one of the most interesting domestic species of flora, it is worth devoting a little attention to it. The bizarre creation which grows out from between the leaves on the stalk is an inflorescence wrapped in a sheath, purple inside at the bottom, and greenish on the outside. Club-like appendages stick out from the sheath. If we cut open the sheath, we will see the interesting arrangement of flowers inside. Of course, on the reserve we cannot pick or destroy the flowers, which is why ill. …. presents a schematic diagram of the inside of this original inflorescence. At the bottom of the bulb is a ring of female flowers, above them are male flowers. These flowers are divided by a ring of appendages formed from adapted infertile flowers, and there are similar outgrowths above the male flowers. An odour is produced from inside the sheath which is attractive to various insects, mainly flies of different types. Lured in by the aroma (and also by the sheath’s temperature which is higher than that of its surroundings) the insects sit on the inside of the sheath and slide down into it. The inner part of the sheath is very slippery and insects are unable to keep a hold on its surface. The insects drop to the bottom of the sheath and cannot get back out due to the appendages blocking the exit.
The arum’s flower thus traps insects and imprisons them, usually for 1 to 2 days during which time first the female, then the male, flowers mature. Providing the ‘inmates’ have already spent time in other ‘prisons’, they will leave pollen on the carpels of the pistils. The appendages blocking the exit now wither, the inner surface of the sheath ceases to be slippery and the insect makes its way outside, taking with it another portion of pollen. They are thus prepared for further visits to other flower-traps maturing at different times. Towards the end of their term in the plant prison, the insects get to feed on a little nectar – their assistance in the pollination proces does not go unpaid. The fruit of the arums is a purple berry.
Several species of grasses should also be included with the group of forest plants which are often to be found in large amounts in the dry-ground forest. The most interesting among theseis the mountain melic grass Melica nutans (ill.), a delicate grass which forms loose clumps. It has a characteristic inflorescence consisting of small towers which are slightly violet in hue and hang from one side of the stem. The wood meadowgrass Poa nemoralis (ill.) also grows in loose clumps, this has narrow blades which are bent at a characteristic right angle. The false brome Brachypodium silvaticum (ill.) grows in large clumps, and can reach up to a metre in height. The inflorescence of this grass is made up of large towers with long awns of chaff.
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The trail leads us onwards along the gardens of the premises on Błogocka Street. On the narrow piece of land between the path and the fences there are often garden plants to be seen – flowers and vegetables which appear only briefly in the reserve and die after vegetating for a single season. This terrain is also home to the common periwinkle Vinca minor (ill.), a wintergreen plant with lancetted, leathery leaves and creeping stems. Its light blue flowers (IV – V) grow on rising stalks, inside the bud the petals of the head are twisted. This is a species which is quite commonly planted in gardens and cemeteries, it prefers shade and is regarded as a typical dry-ground forest plant. The few specimens to be found in the reserve are almost certainly garden plants which have ‘returned’ to their natural habitat. This part of the reserve is sliced up by by several wild paths. Various clearings in the forest stand can also be seen, particularly in the area nearest to the ravine, which are the result of trees being removed. Most of these were elms infected with graphiosis.
Both these paths and the clearings left remaining after felled trees are excellent places for heliophylous plants to develop. This phenomenon is an example of the gradual synanthropisation of the reserve’s flora – the penetration of those species which accompany man, occupying places destroyed or experiencing severe anthropopressure (for example by trampling, dumping litter, etc.).
Another of those plants which grow both in clear forests and by roadsides is the porous common St. John’s-wort Hypericum perforatum (ill.), of which there is no lack of specimens along the pathways of the reserve. This plant owes its Latin name perforatum to the transparent spots on its leaves, which are visible when the plant is held up to the light. These are receptacles of volatile oils, and it because of these that the St. John’s-wort has long been used in herbal medicine for treating ailments of the digestive system, as a sedative, and in healing wounds. Two fairly large yellow flowers grow at the peak of the upright stem, and around the edges of the leaves, petals of the corolla and divisions of the calyx there are dark glands which discharge an aromatic purple resin.
The gardens finish here to the left of the path. More or less level with this, a wide embankment leads down to the lower trail, finishing at the bridge over the Puńcówka. We, however, continue along the path with one of the most devastated parts of the reserve on our left hand side. The undergrowth is extremely dense and composed almost entirely of elder, the ground cover is sparse and its vegetation insufficient to cover the soil. The forest stand is worn thin now, the elms which stood here died and were removed.
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After about 100 metres, the path reaches Błogocka Street. We head down the street along the pavement. What we see on this stretch is an ecotonic environment, also known as peripheral, characterised by the growth of a diverse variety of species where two habitats meet. One is the forest, the other open and ruderal in nature. There is a wide range of plants to be seen here, including those which grow along the so-called upper track in the reserve. New species are appearing, including the wild chicory Cichorium intybus (photo) with its hard, rough stem and lancetted leaves. Blue flowers grow from the upper corners of the leaves, these are complex inflorescences. Chicory is a typical roadside and ruderal plant. Its rootstocks were once dried and ground to be used as a substitute for coffee. Another typically ruderal plant is the dwarf mallow Malva neglecta (photo). The leaves of this mallow are very similar to those of the garden mallows, but smaller, and its flowers (VI – X) are pale pink, or sometimes almost white. In summer the pigweed Chenopodium album (photo) flowers (VII – X). This plant, also known as fat-hen, can vary dramatically in size – anywhere from 20 to 200 cm tall! It has a characteristic appearance, as if spattered with flour, and its inconspicuous-looking flowers are wind-pollinated. This species is considered a typical ruderal and segetal plant (a cropfield weed), which has accompanied man for thousands of years and appears in habitats created as a result of human activity. It was also an edible plant, it produces nuts which are rich in starch and were used to make flour and groats. The pigweed was used for food as early as Neolithic times. Another plant which can be encountered here is the November goldenrod Solidago serotina (photo), a rather large plant which originates in North America and has many small yellow flower baskets (VIII – X). This plant also grows along the paths in the reserve. Along Błogocka Street grows the Japanese fleece-flower Reynautria japonica (photo) with large leaves and hard, hollow stems. This is a stubborn weed which originates in Eastern Asia and was once reared here, and is now perfectly at home in damp and ruderal places.
Are there any methods to prevent undesired species penetrating the reserve? There is certainly no way to completely stop the spread of non-forest species, but it is possible to try to limit the places where they can enter onto the territory of the reserve. One extremely simple example of such action can be seen here along Błogocka Street. Here, along the edge of the forest, a plantation of hornbeams and field maples has been planted – these are species which are native to the dry-ground forest and which will in future form a kind of irregular hedgerow or, to put it another way, a protective rampart. A hedge rampart like this will change the conditions of the habitat, and in particular will create more shade, and perhaps in this way will make it impossible for meadow species, weeds and other plants to settle on the forest edge, where they are not welcome because of the Puńcówka Woods’ reserve status. At a distance of around 100 metres below the place where the trail brought us out onto Błogocka Street, a partially overgrown path begins, and it is along this that we turn back and head in a northern direction. The trail leads through fragments of well-developed dry-ground forest. The ground cover contains many forest species, among which large numbers of hacquetia appear here and there. The trail reaches the lower path level with the bridge over the Puńcówka.
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On an extension of the lower trail (running along the Puńcówka and the Młynówka), begins a narrow, rarely used path which runs parallel to the Puńcówka. This is partially overgrown, and interrupted in places by fallen trees. Windfallen trees uncover the ground naturally, forming places where we can investigate the soil and substrata. It is worth casting an eye over the flat, very brittle rocks – this is Cieszyn slate. At a certain point, the trail follows the brow of the slope, rising up several metres in some places. Under the scarp slope, a flood bank stretches along a meander of the Puńcówka. This area of young growth is situated outside the boundaries of Puńcówka Municipal Woods reserve.
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We cross the Puńcówka and turn left after the bridge. We are on the territory of a large complex of greenery, commonly known as the Wałka Park. Opposite the bridge, on the other side of the road (Aleja Łyska) a monument stands out commemorating the place where the German occupiers executed 24 Poles in 1942.
The trail runs along the Puńcówka, allowing us to observe the scarp where the woods are situated. The Puńcówka flows in a gentle curve, surrounding the flood bank with its Puńcówka Marshland ecological zone [see p16]. There are several trees growing in this park which form natural monuments, and in addition many trees have also been marked with signs indicating their species names. The trail takes us to Aleja Łyska, the Olza campsite is situated opposite. It is worth making a right turn to take in the two magnificent limes growing right beside the road – natural monuments with a trunk circumference of almost 4 metres. The chestnut tree growing on the other side of Aleja Łyska, at the corner of the road leading into the campsite, is a protected specimen and it, too, is recognised as a natural monument, its trunk also has a circumference of 4 metres. After the entrance onto the A1, we should turn left and cross the bridge over the Młynówka, keeping the Puńcówka to our left. To our right is situated a canoe run on the Młynówka.