Post-Congress Tours
1. Folly Arboretum & Winery – CANCELLED
Saturday, 21 May, 2022, 07:30 till 20:00
This tour is an optional programme, not included in the congress registration fee.
Discover the unique flora of Loess Valley Natura 2000 protected area near Belsőbáránd and the Folly Arboretum its extraordinary location and collection at Lake Balaton Uplands during this full day field trip.
The nature conservation importance of Belsőbáránd area is due to its loess vegetation. Botanically, it belongs to the lowland flora region, where loess played a key role in the development of the vegetation. The potential vegetation of Mezőföld is predominantly loess oak with Tatar shepherds, but loess grasslands and open woodlands in the bush form the natural vegetation cover in smaller areas. The area is largely covered by dry grassland, with smaller areas of wetter grassland habitat types. Habitats and species of European Community importance associated with the site: tataria (Crambe tataria)
We continue our trip through the Bakony mountains to the Folly Arboretum part of the Badacsony Landscape Protection Area at Lake Balaton.
Visiting the 117 years old, privately owned Folly Arboretum and winery – unique collection, result of hard work and stamina of four generations with the help of God.
5 acres Mediterranean style evergreen collection – surrounded by family vineyard.
400 different kinds of conifers and 200 broad-leaved trees and shrubs – unrivalled collection of cedars, cypresses and junipers. After traditional lunch guided tour by the owners of the garden as well as visiting and tasting the famous winery collection.
Bus transfer back to Budapest along the beautiful shore of Lake Balaton.
Price: 110 EUR/person
Bus transportation, entrance fees, snacks, lunch, beverages, English speaking guide and VAT included in the price.
Min. number of participants: 10-15 persons
2. Hortobágy Puszta – CANCELLED
07.30-20.00, Saturday, 21 May, 2022
This tour is optional, not included in the registration fee.
Discover the unique flora and fauna of the Hortobágy Puszta during this full day field trip.
Leaving Budapest early in the morning by bus allows us to spend the whole morning wandering on the Puszta, examining some botanical highlights.
As one of the most characteristic landscapes of Hungary the Great Pannonian Plain represents the westernmost edge of the Eurasian forest-steppe. The surroundings of Újszentmargita village still preserves mosaics of Tatarian maple mixed oak woods, saline steppes and salt marshes with special and unique flora. In May Iris spuria, Peucedanum officinale, Silene multiflora are in full flower while other halophyt species like Hordeum histrix, Artemisia maritima, Lepidium cartilagineum grow on the wet sites.
Besides that, you’ll have a chance for bird-watching, meeting special Hungarian breeds of domestic animals e.g the Hungarian grey cattle, and free-range herd of Przewalsi horses in the Hortobágy National Park.
After a traditional lunch, we continue our trip to the centre of the region, historical city of Debrecen. We will visit a relatively young yet excellent botanical garden which belongs to a secondary school, called Diószegi Sámuel BG, where you can admire the richest collection of hardy bamboos in Hungary and other rare non-indigenous dendrotaxa. After this day full of adventures and experiences, we’re heading back to Budapest in the afternoon, estimated arrival at 20.00.
Price: 110 EUR/person
Bus transportation, entrance fees, snacks, lunch, beverages, English speaking guide and 27% VAT is included in the price.
Min. number of participants: 10-15 persons
3. Bugac (homokpuszta, Fülöpháza), Tiszakürt-Szarvas – CANCELLED
07.30-20.00, Saturday, 21 May, 2022
This tour is optional, not included in the registration fee.
Whole-day excursion to the lowland region of Hungary. First visiting Fülöpháza Sand Dunes:
As one of the most characteristic landscapes of Hungary the Great Pannonian Plain represents the westernmost edge of the Eurasian forest-steppe.
Second stop at Bugac: with its 11,488 ha area, it is the largest core area of the National Park. It includes two large sand dune ranges, characterized by a densely packed mosaic of wind-blown grooves, dune series and narrow ridges. The dune range descends into the grasslands of Bugac. The area hosts an ancient Juniper scrub, characterized by drought-tolerant Juniper-Poplar groves.
We also visit Tiszakürt Arboretum Nature Conservation Area.
The Arboretum with its 60 hectares has been a significant local nature conservation area since 1971.
Established in the 19th century by count József Bolza and his wife the Tiszakürt Arboretum is one of the oldest arboretums in the lowland region of Hungary. Several Methuselah trees like the 450 years old pedunculate oak standing alone on a clearing still remembers the aspect of the original gallery forest vegetation of the Tisza river on which the arboretum was designed.
The former ox-bow lake as remnant of the flood plain influences the climate of the garden therefore many tree species introduced by the count have survived until the present and reached high ages. The most famous old specimens within the collection, Abies concolor, Pinus strobus, Pseudotsuga menziensii, Picea pungens, Taxodium distichum, can be seen in the ‘Old Garden’. Recently introduced Rhododendron species, as well as endemics of the Carpathians provide the elevated diversity and colourful aspect of the arboretum.
Last but not least visit in Szarvas Arboretum. With its five large dendrological collections lying on a territory of 82 hectares the Szarvas Arboretum is Hungary’s largest Arboretum. It was established also by the family Bolza at the end of the 19th century. Groves of trees, wide variety of plants and shrubs, as well as mosaics of grasslands makes the garden unique and beautiful in every season. The spring flowering period and the autumn colours give a magic background to the garden. The garden has more than 1600 rare plant species.
The most valorous and oldest collection is the so called “Pepi-garden”, placed in the middle of the Arboretum. The hundred year old trees and the rich flora and fauna creates a unique island in the treeless lowland of the Hungarian plain.
After this day full of adventures and experiences, we’re heading back to Budapest in the very late afternoon, estimated arrival at 21.00.
Price: 110 EUR/person
Bus transportation, entrance fees, snacks, lunch, beverages, English speaking guide and 27%VAT is included in the price.
Min. number of participants: 10-15 persons
