The Oleshky Forest: Where it’s Located and How to Rest

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• The Oleshky Forest: description of the natural area
• Where the Oleshky Forest is located and how to get there
• Leisure activities in the Oleshky Forest
• Photos from tour

The Oleshky Forest is one of the most unique locations in the Kherson Region. It’s the second intentionally planted forest in Europe. Are you wondering why the forest is so attractive for tourists and how to do some sightseeing here? So, it’s time to get answers. Just keep reading our article!

The Oleshky Forest: description of the natural area

Explorers have taken an interest in this little island with its remarkable flora and fauna in the late 19th century. The Oleshky Forest was planted intentionally, but it seems like nature itself has done wonders and mixed up vegetation and wildlife from different natural areas. Some forest species are listed in the Red Data Book of Ukraine.

The first denizens of the forest, such as Crimean and Baltic pines, were planted here in the 1970s and 1980s. Back in those days, the forestland protected Tsyurupinsk city against the impending sandstorms at all times. The Oleshky Forest was a great place to plant pines, as the trees greatly withstand drought and barren ground. Also, the deciduous trees, such as black locusts, oaks, maples, and aspens, were planted closer to the settlement. In 1894, reforestation was put on hold. Nowadays, the forest belongs to the Oleshky Sands National Nature Park area.

Despite wildfires, a lot of Crimean and Baltic pines have survived till our times. They grow not like the old days but occupy more than 220 acres of the forest. Some pines reach a height of 30 meters (that’s basically like a ten-story building)! There are 12 species of pines in the forest.

The black locust covers 103 acres. It grows fast and can be regrown by coppice regeneration (when the tree is cut down, the stump left buttons that grow up in the tree again). Some black locusts in the forest are over 70 years old, their height reaches 20 meters. The shipmast locust, the variety of black locust, grows flowers in the spring, so its flavor is spreading throughout the forest.

The oaks, maples, and aspens grow in the area with improved soil conditions. The birches, hackberries, mountain-ashes, spruces, elderberries, ash-trees, and hawthorns grow in the lowlands. Such diversity of flora attracts tourists and especially mushroom hunters.

The wild grass smells so sweet in the Tsyurupinsk Forest (former name of the Oleshky Forest). You can also find immortelles, yarrows, and thymes here. The fauna is very rich. The rodents, reptiles, and carnivorans inhabit the Oleshky Forest. Lizards, snakes, hares, foxes, and hedgehogs can be found here. Reportedly, deers, roes, and wild boars also inhabit the forest. Birdwatchers will open new insights about the birds, as wild rock pigeons, great spotted woodpeckers, magpies, golden orioles, nightingales, starlings, ring-necked pheasants, and rooks nest in the forest.

The Oleshky Pine Wood is awesome at any time. You can enjoy beautiful views of evergreen pines and spruces in the winter and sniff the scent of grasses in the summer.

Where the Oleshky Forest is located and how to get there

The Tsyurupinsk Forest is located in Oleshky city, It’s about 18 miles away from Kherson. You can reach the forest by car. Just follow the E97 route to Oleshky, and move along Polyovyi Lane. Also, you can drive through another side. Just move on the P57 route. And when you reach the Chaika River, take Kulish Street on the interchange.

You can also reach the forest by public transport. You should take the bus in the direction of Oleshky. The public transport departs from the bus station on Ilka Borshchaka Street, 1 of Kherson. When you’ll reach Oleshky, just move along Polyovyi Lane.

Leisure activities in the Oleshky Forest

Hiking

Hiking through the forest is a great way to relax, and you can do it in all seasons. Regardless of the weather, the landscapes of the Oleshky forest are amazing. Just take a pet with you and set off on a journey. The paths go through the walls of pines. You can also reach the forest glade and enjoy the wild glass smell. Be sure to take beautiful pictures and arrange a little break near the lake.

Take a mosquito repellent with you, as there are a lot of acari in the spring and mosquitos in the summer.

ATV riding

Family holidays in the forest can be full of extremes! If you have a passion for speed, just rent an ATV in the nearest holiday center. The Fairytale of Oleshye greenhouse provides ATV rental services in all seasons.

There is an off-road area in the forest, so you can enjoy riding and not worry about disturbing other tourists and wildlife. Just gather speed and enjoy fast driving!

If you’re not interested in fast driving through sand highlands, then slowly discover forestry roads and paths by an ATV. Routes go through the pinewood, glades, and groves. Children will enjoy slowly riding on ATVs. It’s a great way to familiarize them with the brilliant beauty of the forest.

Mushroom hunting

The Tsyurupinsk Pinewood is a great place to go mushroom hunting. October and November are mushroom seasons. A penny bun, yellow knight, and Suillus can be found here. You’ll definitely have a basket of good mushrooms! You can also go mushroom hunting with guided tours. The list of tourist agencies that provide such services is below.

• The Kotyhoroshko Travel Club (the departure from Mykolaiv). Reservation over the phones: +38 093-30-55-424, +38 098-73-60-283, +38 066-82-07-061.
• Alex Gut Travel Agency (the departure from Odesa). It’s a guided tour. Phone numbers: +38 048-770-42-95; +38 067-482-80-97.
• If you’re going to depart from Kherson, it’s better to go mushroom hunting by car or to travel in the Oleshky Sands groups with KhersON.

Horse-riding expeditions

Horse-riding expeditions in the forest of the Kherson Region will be your vacation of a lifetime. Just imagine how you will take a horse through forest paths. While riding, you can be a brave Robin Hood or noblewoman. Just feel fresh air, birdsongs, the coolness of a forest, snickering of a horse. It’s a real joy, isn’t it?

You can reserve horse-riding expeditions here:

• Grand Prix Horse Club. If you're a beginner, instructors will train you on how to ride a horse. Children can ride a pony. The address: Boyko Street, 83, Pravy Sagi village, Oleshky city (former Tsyurupinsk), Kherson Region. Phone number: +38 050 396 40 30.
• Bucefal Horse Club. Even if you’re not a horseman, you’ll learn how to ride a horse here. Children under the age of 6 can ride a horse only with adults. The address: Sosnova Street, 5, Oleshky city (former Tsyurupinsk), Kherson Region. Phone numbers: +38 050 318 78 70, +38 050 622 64 85, +38 068 614 71 00.

The Home of Father Frost

Immerse yourself in a fairytale and Christmas mood. Father Frost awaits you in the Chumatska Krynytsya Eco-tourism Center. You can see the show, participate in funny competitions, or just go on a fabulous adventure here. At 4:30 p.m, the Christmas Tree lights up. Just think about Christmas gifts you found when you were a child. Be sure to take memorable pictures in decorated photo zones and backgrounded picturesque landscapes. You can also drink mulled wine, hot chocolate, and get some aromatic Christmas sausages.

Make a wish to Father Frost in person. He lives in a renovated house. Tickets for adults cost 50 UAH and 100 UAH for children. Father Frost gives kids Christmas gifts.

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