Given his interest in the natural environment, its protection, education for the environment and environmental engineering education, the WIETE Director, Professor Zenon J. Pudlowski, accompanied by his wife Dorota, visited the Bolestraszyce Arboretum on 22 August 2013. The Arboretum in Bolestraszyce extends over 28 hectares and is located near Przemyśl, a historical city in the south-eastern part of Poland, close to the Ukrainian boarder.

The Arboretum includes the largest collection of flora from this part of Europe, and has the aim of protecting and preserving the natural heritage of the Carpathian region. In the middle of the Arboretum is a historic mansion, which in the early 19th Century was the residence of the famous Polish romantic painter Piotr Michalowski (1800-1855). The mansion presently houses the Natural History Museum to complement the huge collection of plants. There are also open-air expositions of arts, at this time featuring wickerwork exhibits.

This place also houses the Ecological Education Centre, which provides educational activities on the cultural-natural heritage, ecology and nature protection, and is a must- see for any person involved in this area of academic endeavour.

The top picture shows the mansion in the Bolestraszyce Arboretum and the second top picture shows another view of the Arboretum. More information on the Arboretum and the nearby area can be found at the following Web address: http://www.bolestraszyce.com

Przemyśl, is located on the steep hills spanning the San River, with an old castle overlooking the city. The natural position and architectural beauty of the city attracts many tourists. In the late 19th Century, under the occupation of the then Austro-Hungarian Empire, the city became the largest fortress in Europe, with about 20 huge forts and many bunkers, representing a marvel of civil engineering. Some of the forts are still intact, and Fort Werner, located in the vicinity of the Arboretum, houses an interesting exhibition of military equipment, artefacts and soldiers' memorabilia.

A few kilometres to the south-west of Przemyśl is the historic Krasiczyn Castle, the foundation of which goes back to 1580. The castle is a pearl of Polish Renaissance architecture. It now hosts a museum and a hotel, and provides excellent facilities for holding a small conference.

The third and fourth pictures from the top show Przemyśl’s main square and the Krasiczyn Castle, respectively.

The WIETE management is now contemplating the staging of a week-long scientific seminar on environmental research and education to be held there in early September 2014. It is believed that participants and their partners would be able to extend their stay there and enjoy their holidays in this picturesque part of Poland. Any person interested in this matter should contact WIETE by e-mail on info@wiete.com.au