By Wigry National Park
Text and photographs: Paulina Pajer-Giełażys
The Tree of Men and Gods
Oaks and their historic connection with people living in the area around lake Wigry
ReadForest around lake Wigry (2018)Wigry National Park
Wigry National Park
The Park is located in the north-eastern part of Poland.
It was created to protect the northern part of Augustów Forest around Lake Wigry.
Primeval forest (2012)Wigry National Park
Augustow Forest
Augustow Forest (Puszcza Augustowska) is the biggest forest in Poland and, along with forests in Lithuania and Belarus, the biggest forest complex on the European Lowlands, covering an area of almost 3,000 km².
Oak in the forest 1 (2021) by Paulina Pajer-GiełażysWigry National Park
People have relied on trees for centuries
For centuries, people living in the area around Lake Wigry have based their existence on forest resources: forests provided food, building material and firewood.
Among many species of trees, European oaks (Quercus robur) have always played an exceptional role. Its hard, durable wood has been valued as building material.
Sacred tree
Due to its longevity, impressive size and majestic structure, oak has always played an important role in religious cult and symbolism. Baltic people inhabiting the area in the Middle Ages – Yotvingians and Prussians, considered oaks as sacred trees.
Oak in the forest 1 (2021)Wigry National Park
Perkunas
The most important god in the Prussian pantheon – Perkūnas, was symbolised by an oak. This Proto-Baltic name can be reconstructed as coming from the ancient Indo-European word perk- “oak”.
Oak with a shrine (2011)Wigry National Park
In the modern times local people still have respect for oaks. Shrines and other religious symbols can often be found on those trees.
Oak in the village of Nowa Wies (2011)Wigry National Park
Ancient oak
In the village of Nowa Wieś, at the border of Wigry National Park, there was a huge, almost 300-year old oak. Even though it had been dead for many years, it played an important role as a landmark.
Only when its condition worsened and it started to pose a danger for people using a nearby road, the Park’s authorities made the decision to fell the oak.
Wigry National Park donated the wood from the oak to local people who used it to create a roadside shrine, which stands in the same place to this day.
Oak with s hive (2014)Wigry National Park
Honey trees
In the Middle Ages oaks were often used as the so-called honey trees. Forest beekeeping was a unique method that originated during the Middle Ages in the forest regions east of the Elbe River.
Bees were kept in tree-hollows or logs hung on a tree. In western Europe bees were kept in straw bee hives, called skeps. A much more primitive method, during harvesting honey most of the bees were killed. Forest hives were different; the beekeeper took care of the bees, ensuring swarms survived the winter.
Honey trees were protected and forest beekeepers were highly regarded. The tradition of forest beekeeping is continued in Wigry National Park, modern forest hives can be found in several places in the Park.
Dugout canoe (2016)Wigry National Park
Early boats
Exceptionally large oak trees were used for making the earliest boats - dugout canoes, made from one tree trunk.
A medieval dugout canoe is on display in the Museum of Lake Wigry.
Autumn-coloured oak2 (2012)Wigry National Park
Oaks used in ship construction for centuries
On average, as many as 3,000 oaks were used to build one large ship in the XVIII century. Oaks from the territory of Augustow Forest were floated to Koenigsberg, and then transported to the western Europe.
On the British Isles, oak wood from that area was also used for making whisky barrels. Perhaps savouring old, Scotch whisky, one can taste the wood of oaks growing by Lake Wigry!
Oaks in an old forest (2012)Wigry National Park
Oaks in Wigry National Park today
Although the primaeval forests around lake Wigry consisted mainly of oaks and spruces, and in the XIX century there was still a lot of “dumbrowy” (oak forests), nowadays oaks are less numerous here.
Oak seedling (2021)Wigry National Park
A unique role in the ecosystem
European oak is one of the most important species, creating natural forests.
Therefore, young oaks are planted in forests transformed by various human activities, to restore their natural composition.
Old, hollow trees are the most valuable. Tree hollows are natural nesting places for birds, as well as hiding places for other animals, such as bats.
Dead tree (2012)Wigry National Park
Even dead trees are valuable for the ecosystem
Decomposition of an old, big oak can last over 100 years, providing feed and living environment for a huge number of organisms.
In this way even dead oaks play an important role in the environment.
Paulina Pajer-Giełażys, Maciej Ambrosiewicz
