“Polihon” is a landscape reserve with an area of 2,293 hectares north of Korosten. It was established in 2010 on the lands of the former Ihnatpil military firing range, in the valleys of the Zherev and Shesten rivers. The vegetation here suffered greatly during the times of military exercises and is now recovering — partly thanks to forest plantations, and partly on its own.
What grows here
In the center of the reserve, in the interfluve, lie flat plains with heather moorlands and naturally grown pine-birch sparse woodlands. Almost the entire forest is birch (about 90%), pine forests make up 5–8%, while black alder plots occur along the Zherev, and oak plots along the Shesten.
The most valuable feature of the reserve is its small lowland sedge-sphagnum bogs. In the driest places, rare European lichen pine forests are formed: the pines grow poorly, there is almost no grass beneath them, but the ground is entirely covered by silvery Cladonia lichens, particularly reindeer moss. In the damp pine forests, mosses, bilberries, and lingonberries turn green. Among the rare plants are hare's-tail cottongrass, spotted orchids, round-leaved wintergreen, and yagel.
Tip
As with any former firing range, stick to roads and paths, do not pick up unfamiliar metal objects, and in case of a find, call 101. The best time is August, when the heather blooms, and September — for bilberries and lingonberries. Bring tick repellent.
How to get there
The reserve lies north of Korosten, in the Bekhove forestry. The Bovsunivskyi reserve borders it from the west. Nearby are the Zherev River and the Uzh River with the abandoned hydroelectric power stations of the Korosten region. More about the surroundings can be found in the article about the Korosten district.
