The Eastern Eco-Park

The Eastern Eco-Park is protected as an ecological area on the strength of the resolution no XXIX/278/96 of the City Council of Kołobrzeg from March 25th, 1996. It covers 381 ha of an extremely valuable area in terms of landscape, geomorphology, fauna, and flora. The park consists mainly of a basin of brackish peat bogs called “Solne Bagno”. These used to be peat bogs and swamps with submerged trees and impenetrable recesses of reeds. They were a refuge for many animal species. Mammals, such as badgers, ermines, wild boars, elks, and pygmy shrews, used to live there. Among valuable bird species that used to have nesting and feeding grounds there are western marsh harrier, common sandpiper, peewit, goldeneye, common buzzard, red-necked grebe, Eurasian woodcock, and black-necked grebe. There were breeding places of many amphibians and reptiles, such as northern crested newt, smooth newt, common toad, moor frog, viviparous lizard, grass snake, and common European adder. Also, flora was characterized by enormous abundance. On the elevated areas of the southern part of the Eco-Park, there is a broadleaved forest with the preponderance of common beech and oak. Some specimens have monumental size and are more than 150 years old. They are covered by a large number of creepers, including common honeysuckle, common ivy, and old man’s beard. The most valuable flora species include garden angelica, lesser butterfly-orchid, wavy bittercress, sneezewort, and greater yellow-rattle.

Om March 24th, 2010, however, was followed by an ecological disaster. The pressure of melt waters accumulated after spring thaw caused the rupture of the dune embankment. The breach was about 60 metres long. A bridge on a bike path was carried away to the sea. During a month, there was a leak of waters from the entire area of the Eco-Park. This resulted in the destruction of many breeding grounds and nests of various animal species. The embankment was rebuilt within a year from the catastrophe; it was also additionally strengthened. Water slowly returns to the area of the Eco-Park. Along with the water, more and more animals begin to show up. In spite of this relatively recent devastation, it is worth organizing a bike excursion through the Eco-Park. During the visit within this area, one will be able to see how the “Solne Bagno” peat bog is reviving.