Olevskyi Reserve is a small local forest reserve near Olevsk in northern Zhytomyr region. Its area is 99 hectares, and it received its status in 1991. The reserve’s forest is a descendant of the Olevsk shipbuilding grove of the 19th century, where oaks suitable for shipbuilding once grew.
Oaks and Quartzites
The terrain of the reserve is almost flat — elevations vary only by about one to one and a half meters. But at the highest points, Bilokorovytsia quartzites emerge on the surface: massive rocks and individual boulders covered with a continuous carpet of moss.
The forest is mainly composed of common oak about 130 years old, with birch, aspen, hornbeam, and alder growing nearby. The most valuable areas are in the depressions, where individual oaks aged 200–250 years and up to 90 centimeters thick can be found. Below, in the second layer, there are hornbeam, linden, and Norway maple, and in the undergrowth — hazel, buckthorn, rowan, and alder buckthorn.
What Grows Under the Oaks
In spring, under the trees bloom the two-leaf squill, followed by wood anemone, liverleaf, lungwort, wild ginger, and yellow star-of-Bethlehem. In drier, lighter places, the forest floor is covered with hairy sedge and wood stitchwort. Species listed in the Red Book of Ukraine also grow here — common bird’s-nest orchid and coralroot orchid, as well as the rare for Zhytomyr Polissia bedstraw.
Who Lives in the Forest
Roe deer and wild boars live permanently in the reserve; moose pass through the crossings. Predators include fox, pine marten, and wolf. A special value of the reserve is the badgers: their inhabited burrows were found right under quartzite boulders. Among rare birds, black stork and black woodpecker have been seen here.
Advice
The reserve is not a developed park but a forest area under protection. It is forbidden to cut trees, light fires, or disturb animals here. The best time for a walk is April and May, when the spring flowers bloom, and September, when the forest is quiet and dry. Take comfortable shoes and tick repellents with you.
How to Get There
The reserve is located in the Olevsk forestry near the town of Olevsk, which is served by trains on the Korosten — Sarny line and buses from Zhytomyr and Korosten. Nearby is the Poliskyi Nature Reserve with its swamps and pine forests. More about the town and surroundings can be found in the article about Olevsk.
