Peregi Park Forest Nature Reserve
<p class="Norml1" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="FR">The nearly twelve-hectare park forest is located on a small hill to the right of the road connecting Kiskunlachaza with Ráckeve, next to the Ráckeve-Dunaág recreation area. This is the Pusztatemplom or Templomhát vineyard. In the Middle Ages, the village of Berek (Pereg) was located on this 'hill', but its inhabitants left the village and moved further away because of the regular flooding and the ravages of the Turks, due to the proximity of the Danube.</span></p>
Legislation declaring the area protected: Decree No 4/1996 (IV. 17.) of the Pomeranian State Council on the establishment of the Pereg Park Forest Nature Reserve.
Affected settlements. Extent: 11,7 hectares.
Today, a part of Kiskunlacháza is called Pereg by the locals, and the adjoining street of Ráckeve is called Peregi Dunasarok. Before the forest was planted, archaeological excavations were carried out in the area and the remains of a medieval church wall were found. Its location was marked by a memorial tower, from which a section of the park forest can be seen when looking around. Burial sites have also been excavated in the vicinity of the memorial tower and on the Church Ridge, thus ensuring the preservation of cultural and historical values.
Interesting reforestation work was carried out in the area in 1978-79. This has mainly involved the planting of noble ash trees, but also the scattered or clustered planting of many species (linden, ash, sycamore, etc.). Natural regeneration has soon led to the appearance of new species. The planting of chestnut trees, which is unusual in the lowlands, and the establishment of a collection of larch trees, which is a sign of the Mediterranean influence, are particularly noteworthy. The latter have grown at a surprising rate, making the area important for comparative studies.
The understorey of the park forest is still poor, but some herbaceous species typical of the former floodplain have already recolonised. Flowering plants attract a wide range of insects. From May onwards, butterflies are abundant in the area. Among the protected species, the spring dance of the swallow-tailed butterfly or the basking of the peacock's eye during the day can be a delight for hikers.
The rattling of the bushes along the path marks the swift lizard's escape. The forest is alive with the song of songbirds, as nightingales compete with the friendly puffin and the wood pipit. Surprisingly, a pair of martins has settled in this small patch of forest, within arm's reach of the holiday homes lining the banks of the Danube.
The larger unwooded meadow next to the road can be a great place for occasional events, mayfairs, and commemorations of the Day of Birds and Trees. The park forest could also provide an opportunity for primary schools to organise nature education sessions.
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