In the central part of our commune is the valley of the Ciemna river (also known as Trzemna). The area, covering 3500 hectares, has the status of a landscape reserve. Gołuchów woods, arboretum and the valley of Ciemna abound in fauna, especially breeding birds and mammals.





          One can encounter there valuable plant communities, many of which consist of protected species. In addition to the arboretum, the commune boasts nineteen nature monuments. The areas of rich fauna and flora concentration are:

     


"Tursko" - In the woods are ranges of valuable marshy meadows with ash trees and alders as well as many other protected plants. Small ponds in the nearby gravel pit with their water and shore plants are a habitat and reproduction place for many species of amphibians in danger of extinction as well as many rare species of birds: lapwing, meadow pipit, little ringed plover and wheatear. On the slope of the gravel pit is a breeding colony of sand-martins.

"Stara Wieś" - The steep slopes of the Prosna valley, covered with marshy meadows, are also rich in trees, bushes and undergrowth, all of which combine into a complex, multi-layer whole. The area abounds in imposing specimens of elm and a variety of maple, which is rarely seen anywhere else.

"Polesie" - It is the only place in the commune and one of the very few in the Prosna valley (the village Kuchary) where such a vast area is occupied by marshy meadows as well as old river-bed ponds. It is a sanctuary of water- fowl.

"Krzywosądów" - The area of an old sand-pit covered with growth is a reproduction site of endangered bird species: little ringed plover, sand-martin, wheatear, lapwing, meadow pipit, rail, moor-hen.




                         THE PARK

The castle is surrounded by a picturesque, English-style park dating from the second half of the 19th century. It has been awarded the status of a dendrological park. With its 160 hectares, it is the biggest arboretum in Poland, abounding in trees of different kinds: oaks, beeches, spruces (also Siberian and Caucasian), Greek firs, two-coloured copper maples. The park boasts several unique trees and several hundred that have been designated as monuments. The park is supervised by Ośrodek Kultury Leśnej (The Centre of Forestry), which also takes care of the facilities mentioned below.