Birch forest with bracken undergrowth

Birch forests with bracken undergrowth are extremely important for the biodiversity in Bela Krajina and the local identity.

The magic of birch forests with bracken undergrowth

Birch forests with bracken undergrowth are very important to the biodiversity and cultural diversity of Bela Krajina, as they are not found elsewhere in Slovenia. Birch forests with bracken undergrowth are home to several species of fungi, butterflies, insects, orchids, and other animal species. Many traditions and customs of Bela Krajina incorporate birch forest with bracken undergrowth.
Our ancestors, the Slavs, drank birchwood sap, as it was the only known sweetener in this area besides honey. The birch three had a major role in rituals and was a gift from the gods, as it symbolized spring and light. They believed that hugging a birch three brings luck, strength, and happiness. The birch tree is present in the ceremony of two major events: Jurjevo and later Jurjevanje.
For the Slavs eagle fern also held magical power. They hung eagle ferns on roofs believing it would protect them from lightning, evil spells, and other evil forces. Fern seeds gave them the ability to talk to animals, with the help of seed they were looking for love, and became invisible.

Birch forests with bracken undergrowth are agricultural areas that are overgrown with birch trees and eagle ferns and are grazed or mowed regularly, at least once a year. Ferns and other plants usually cover more than 80% of the ground, trees cover less than 75% of the area.
The cultural landscape after we are known is slowly being overgrown. The farmers do not mow the fern to use it as animal litter. The abandoning of farming led to the shrinking of birch forests with bracken undergrowth. In birch forests with bracken undergrowth besides eagle ferns present white birches and the common juniper. In the overgrown parts the common hazel, the European red pine, the poplar, and other species dominate.

Preserved birch forests with bracken undergrowth

There is only a handful of preserved birch forests with bracken undergrowth. The most known birch forests with bracken undergrowth are in Vinomer, near Metlika, and Marindol, near Adlešiči. The Marindol birch forests with bracken undergrowth are part of the Kolpa Landscape Park.
Within the landscape park, the birch forests with bracken undergrowth was traditionally mown between the Assumption of Mary, August 15th, and the Nativity of Mary, September 8th, when the fern turned brown. This was the period when farmers had more time, since the majority of fieldwork was already done. In the past farmers took part of the mown fern home, the majority was left in birch forests. From the fern they made stog (haystack), which was once the typical signature element of the agricultural landscape of the Kolpa Landscape Park.

Haystacks (stogi) have a big pole in the middle, around the pole fern is stacked and compressed in a way that the rain does not soak the fern. Fern prepared this way can be used for years to come. One haystack has generally so much fern that you can load a wagon. In the past building a haystack was a social event since neighbors helped each other. The haystacks are with the abandoning of mowing birch forests with bracken undergrowth disappearing from the cultural landscape
Due to the uniqueness and significance in the ecosystem the birch forests with bracken undergrowth in Marindol have now the status of valuable natural feature, as well as the status of a natural and cultural monument.