1. Stand from Tehbeton
The ecological trail “Road to the Bison” has been supplemented with a new information stand. This became possible thanks to the help of Tehbeton Business Group (TEHBETON BUSINESS GROUP) company — a new participant in the “Adopt a Bison” program. The new information stand is installed at the end of the excursion route near the sanitary enclosure with a catch yard and a transport cage. The stand tells about the Central Bison Nursery as an international center for bison breeding. Thanks to infographics, the stand allows you to learn about the history of the settlement of bison born in the Prioksko-Terrasny Reserve, about existing free populations and the expansion of the species’ range, as well as track the growth of the bison population in the world and in our country. Natalia Valeryevna Shpilenok, Deputy Director of the Prioksko-Terrasny Reserve for environmental education, development and educational tourism: Information stands are important tools for increasing the effectiveness of environmental education. They help the tour guide convey information to visitors, and facilitate the educational process for guests, structuring the information thanks to their clarity. The reserve often receives requests to help the bison. However, help can be provided not only within the framework of the “Adopt a Bison” program. Contribution to the development of the reserve’s infrastructure and assistance that can be directed towards the acquisition of modern means for environmental education and the formation of a conscious attitude towards natural resources on the part of the population are also very important. I thank the management of Tehbeton Business Group and hope that this company’s example will be followed by further business participation in the healthy development of the reserve.”
2. Healthy Fatherland and Reserve
On May 3, the Prioksko-Terrasny Reserve hosted groups of young athletes from Belgorod, who live at the Lesnaya Opushka sports base. The event was organized by the All-Russian public movement Healthy Fatherland and became an unusual and inspiring event for 55 young athletes to spend time in nature, take a break from the routine of training and breathe in the fresh air. The excursion not only helped to strengthen team spirit, but also allowed the athletes to learn more about the flora and fauna of the reserve, which undoubtedly broadened their horizons and brought many positive emotions.
3. The reserve and residents of the settlement of Danki celebrated Victory Day
A few days before May 9, the Prioksko-Terrasny State Reserve began congratulating the heroes of this holiday – veterans and children of the war, home front workers. On May 8, the Prioksko-Terrasny Reserve hosted an event dedicated to the 79th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War. The program began with the ceremonial laying of flowers at the obelisk in memory of veterans and participants of the Great Patriotic War in Danki. Deputy Director for Environmental Education, Development and Educational Tourism Natalia Shpilenok laid flowers on behalf of the staff of FGBU “Priokso-Terrasny State Reserve”. The event continued with a festive concert featuring artists from the “Bolshevik” Community Center. Songs from the war years’ repertoire were performed on the assembly hall of the reserve. The soloist of the folk vocal group “Serpukhovskie Perezvony” Ivan Prokofiev, Anastasia Kutyavina and Marina Amirjanova performed for the audience. According to tradition, at the end of the event, all those present were treated to soldier’s porridge. Local residents who came to the celebration received memorable prizes from the Prioksko-Terrasny Reserve. The event was held with the participation of the Serpukhov town Administration and the MBU “Cultural and Leisure Association”
4. Creative friends
The Prioksko-Terrasny Reserve congratulated the G. Kryukova Doll House on its 15th birthday. The Doll House was created on April 29, 2009 and during its work united needlewomen from all over the southern Moscow region. Over the past fifteen years, craftswomen have created dozens of doll compositions, conducted hundreds of excursions and master classes. In June 2022, the G. Kryukova Doll House took part in the ceremonial events dedicated to the Reserve’s birthday, which took place at the Central Estate. Then women, festively dressed in Russian folk costumes, held creative classes on creating wicker dolls. On May 6, 2024, many friends came to congratulate the G. Kryukova Doll House and its participants. The event was opened by the performance of the Folk Son Ensemble “Zabavushka”. Then the ceremonial part continued with congratulations. Warm words were spoken by the Head of the Culture Department of the Serpukhov urban district Administration Elena Kotova, the Director of the Cultural and Leisure Association Marina Mishechkina, the representative of the Union of Women of the Moscow region Yana Kiblitsky, the deputy of the Serpukhov urban district Vyachelsav Orekhov, employees of the Chekhov town library, the artistic director of the Young Actor’s Theater Tatyana Churikova, employees of the Rehabilitation Center “Serpukhovsky”. In a festive atmosphere, the chief specialist of the environmental education department of the FGBU “Prioksko-Terrasny State Reserve” Irina Pushkova presented the Head of the Doll House Nina Efimovna Sapozhnikova with a congratulatory address, a memorable souvenir set and, for inspiration, the book “Nature of our region”. You can get acquainted with the work of the craftswomen of the Doll House named after G. Kryukova by visiting their house-museum in the town of Serpukhov on Voroshilova street, 53 or at the upcoming birthday of the reserve, which is scheduled for June 15.
5. Cleaning at Muchadr’s
On May 16, a small but very effective and skilled team of volunteers from the company “Gazprom Transgaz Moscow” Serpukhov Linear Production Department of Main Gas Pipelines arrived at the Prioksko-Terrasny Reserve. They always show up when the work is difficult and special equipment is needed. Today, they had just such a task. Last summer, powerful gusts of wind swept over the northwestern part of the reserve, leaving behind many broken and uprooted trees. In the Central Bison Nursery, several mighty aspens fell at the same time in one of the enclosures due to the hurricane wind. Over the course of a year, they had dried out, and it was time to remove them so that the bison could move more easily and, of course, so that the debris did not interfere with the grass growing. This territory belongs entirely to the family group of the bison named Muchadr, and the opinions of the owners as to whether they needed cleaning today had to be taken into account. The fallen trees were of no interest to the bison at the moment – they had long ago eaten all the bark they could reach, but the trunks and upturned roots of the trees had become excellent “scratching pads” for them, as evidenced by the hoof prints and tufts of wool. Having made sure that the bison were currently grazing in the opposite side of the enclosure, the volunteers set to work. The deadwood was sawed and manually carried out of the enclosure, in just a few hours a significant area was cleared. When the work was already coming to an end, the goby Mukhomor came from the neighboring enclosure to see who was making so much noise. When he appeared, everyone immediately grabbed their phones and rushed to try to capture the bison as a keepsake. The goby Mukhomor was pleased with the attention and mischievously butted the fence, scaring people and enjoying the effect produced. However, this game soon bored him, he snorted and went home. With his departure, the event was announced to be over and, having received pleasant souvenirs as a keepsake, our old friends – volunteers from “Gazprom Transgaz Moscow” Serpukhov Linear Production Department of Main Gas Pipelines said goodbye to the reserve, hopefully not for long!
6. Future psychologists and journalists visited the reserve
On May 19, students of the Psychology and the Journalism Department of the Lomonosov Moscow State University decided to visit the ancient town of Serpukhov and the only reserve in the Moscow region – Prioksko-Terrasny. The trip was organized with the aim of exchanging professional experience between the departments and visiting iconic places in the southern Moscow region. The event began with an excursion to the Prioksko-Terrasny Reserve, where the students visited the ecological route “Road to the Bison”. From the reserve’s specialists, the young people received a lot of information about this specially protected natural area and learned the history of the last wild bulls of Europe – bison, a nursery for breeding which has been operating here for many years. As a souvenir of the excursion, the students presented the reserve with a teddy bear and several colorful university albums, and took away new knowledge and a good mood. The future psychologists conducted a training session on “Psychology of Communication” for their fellow journalists, and the journalists, in turn, gave a lecture on “How to Manage Social Networks”. The trip ended with an introduction to the historical sights of the town of Serpukhov. We are always glad to see guests! We wish the students to study well, be friends with nature conservation organizations, be sure to participate in interesting joint projects and visit the Prioksko-Terrasny Reserve more often.
