The Middle Seym Landscape Reserve protects the Seym valley between Putivl, Bilopillia and Buryn, as well as the mouth of the Vyr River. Here, in the near-channel part of the Seym, floodplain deciduous forests, wide meadows and oxbow lakes with aquatic vegetation have been preserved. Most importantly, this is one of the last refuges of the Russian desman, a rare animal listed in the International and Ukrainian Red Data Books.
Seym Floodplain
This national-significance reserve with an area of 2,020 hectares was established in 1987. The greater part is occupied by meadows, as well as oxbow lakes with aquatic and littoral vegetation. The forests here are mostly middle-aged — 50–60 years old. The first tier is formed by oaks up to 18 meters high with spreading crowns; ash, aspen, elm, small-leaved lime and field maple can also be found, with hazel in the undergrowth.
The Desman — A Living Fossil
The reserve was created primarily to preserve the Russian desman — a small animal with a long trunk-like snout that lives in burrows on the banks of oxbow lakes and appeared on Earth millions of years ago. This is one of the rarest mammals in Ukraine. Scientists record the desman far beyond the reserve as well, particularly on the Vyr River, but there the animals perish in fishing nets. Therefore, researchers have long insisted on the creation of the Middle Seym National Park, the scientific justification for which was approved back in 2001.
Beavers also live in the reserve, and among the birds are the mute swan and the greylag goose.
How to Get There
The reserve stretches along the Seym valley in Konotop and Sumy districts, from the outskirts of Putivl to the mouth of the Vyr near Pisky. It is most convenient to travel by car via Putivl or Buryn.
Things to Consider
Do not set nets and do not leave fishing tackle in the oxbow lakes: it is precisely in these that the desman perishes. This region is close to the border with Russia, so before your trip, check the security situation and the restrictions imposed by the Sumy Regional State Administration.
