Intrigued by a forest in the city? That’s Lasek na Kole. This unique woodland sits in Warsaw’s Wola district. It offers a green escape from the urban sprawl.
Lasek na Kole covers roughly 43 hectares. Its borders are defined by several streets. These include Prymasa Tysiaclecia, Ostrowiecka, and Dalibora. Notably, Lasek na Kole blends into Park Ksiecia Janusza near Dalibora Street. You can clearly see the transition from forest to park here.
Back in the interwar period, Warsaw’s leaders wanted to improve the city’s look and feel. They started planting trees on unused land. As a result, the trees in Lasek na Kole are relatively young.
Despite their age, these trees create a haven for relaxation. Locals love Lasek na Kole for walks and recreation. There are playgrounds for children. Benches line the paths.
May and early June are particularly beautiful in Lasek na Kole. That’s when the black locust trees bloom. Their fragrant white flowers fill the air with a sweet scent.
Historically, Lasek na Kole grew on former wetlands near the Rudawka River. During the German occupation, the forest served as a training ground. Soldiers of the underground resistance used it. They also held secret meetings here. AK soldiers mention Lasek na Kole in their accounts for the Warsaw Uprising Museum.
Jozef Gluchowski recalls gatherings and military exercises. Miroslaw Szewczyk remembers night shooting drills. Henryk Wawrzyniak speaks of taking his oath in Lasek na Kole in 1942. He adopted the pseudonym “Rys”.
Once, a children’s home named after Jozef Pilsudski stood in the southwest part of Lasek na Kole. It housed orphans of soldiers from the Polish-Soviet War. A building at Dobrogniewa 2/4 remains from this orphanage.
The railway line cuts through Lasek na Kole since the post-war period.
Almost all of Lasek na Kole consists of woodland communities. Pine and black locust dominate the tree cover. Birch, larch, and oak are also present. Red oak, black locust, and black cherry fill the undergrowth. In autumn, the red oak’s leaves turn vibrant shades of red and purple. This makes Lasek na Kole a colorful spectacle.
Today, Lasek na Kole is a typical urban forest. It acts like a forest park. Visitors can enjoy walking paths, benches, and picnic shelters. There are also forest playgrounds and a fitness trail. Lasek na Kole offers a vital green space for Warsaw. It connects residents with nature.