The “Nad Groblą” reserve in the southeastern part of the Kaczawskie Foothills in the “Chełmy” Landscape Park encompasses the left slopes of the Młynówka and Nysa Mała valleys above the village of Grobla and the adjacent section of the plateau. It was established in 2001, covering an area of 88.41 hectares, and boasts significant botanical, geological, and geomorphological values. The local rocks consist of various types of greenstone. On some rocks, you can recognize deformed structures of pillow lavas. They take the form of oval, separated rock fragments, with lengths up to 40-50 cm and thicknesses up to 20 cm, arranged parallel to each other. Rocky walls, pulpits, and towers up to 10 m in height are common on the slopes.
The main botanical values of the reserve include habitats of oak forests, the presence of Central European oak-hornbeam forest, and plant communities on rocky outcrops. The most valuable habitat is the thermophilous oak forest, mainly found on slopes with southern and western exposure, with widespread loose scree of greenstone rocks. In large clusters of woody plants, there is the wild service tree (Sorbus torminalis), forming one of the largest concentrations in the country – around 700 individuals with a height of up to 20 m. Further forest communities include the slope forest of lime and sycamore maple, typical for steep slopes. Within this area, there are individual common yews, as well as pedunculate oak and hornbeam. Along the Młynówka stream, there are ash-elm riparian forests and mountain alder forests dominated by black alder. Further away from the river, there are mixed forests with pedunculate oak, hornbeam, and lime.
Description: Piotr Migoń
Trip route
The map presents the route in one directon, from Siedmica to the end of the gorge. The return is made the same way (green trail), or at the end, you can turn right, cross the stream, and come back via a country road. The reserve is one of the places where you can encounter the spotted salamander.
