A new education trail inaugurated at Michlova Huť in the Protected Landscape Area of the Bohemian Forest (Šumava)

This new educational mini-trail was opened to the public yesterday in a festive ceremony near the hamlet of Michlova Huť (in the Vimperk district). It was built by the Bohemian Forest chapter of the Czech Union for Nature Conservation (ČSOP Šumava) under the auspices of the NET4GAS Closer to Nature programme.

This trail owes its existence to the long-standing cooperation between ČSOP Šumava and the owners of the nearby Michlovka farm. The latter noted that hikers who depart from Lipka following the blue trail markers into the Bohemian Forest receive no information about the local surroundings, and that they would surely appreciate any effort to make their journey more pleasurable, especially if they travel with children. This gave rise to the idea to install a small trail, straightforwardly named the "Michlova Huť educational trail".

At three stations along the trail, visitors may find out more about wetland meadows and the plants that grow there, about the glass-making past and present of Michlova Huť, and about the beasts of prey that prowl the forestscape of the Šumava mountain range. Younger visitors may look forward to game elements such as matching pairs, examining objects found in the vicinity, or a totem matching game. Each station has been fitted with outdoor furniture for a well-deserved rest, while small-leaved linden trees have been planted at two of them.

This educational trail is already the seventh such site that was restored or newly built in the Bohemian Forest or its foothills from funds provided by the NET4GAS Closer to Nature programme.  Earlier sites include, e.g. the Sudslavice Circuit, the Trail of Hazel Grouse Bošík, or the nearby Alpine Lookout Point.