Strange as it may sound, sewage systems, sewage treatment plants or waste processing utilities may well co-exist in harmony with the natural surroundings. Such projects include, for example, a sewage plant built in an old watermill.
Fortunately, the authorities of the Environmental Protection and Water Management in Poznań (North-Western Poland) know that environmental care is a broad concept which involves a number of fields, including even art and design. Thus in the Great Poland (i.e. Wielkopolska) region, they are aware of the architectural skills of nature and strive for ways not to destroy it. It is quite a compelling task to smartly reconcile natural beauty and technology.
Although constructing such places requires both substantial funds and an underlying thought on a nationwide scale, the outcome pays just great! It also involves implementing appropriate laws which prevent people from building on flood or hurricane endangered areas.
The Wielkopolska region is a vast area, mainly agricultural, offering natural wonders like a thousand lakes or the Notecka Forest - Poland's biggest forest complex stretching over a hundred kilometres, yes, twice the length of the Channel Tunnel! In addition, the Płocizna River resembles a mountain creek. Additionally, two best-known local waterways, the Warta and Noteć rivers are home to rare bird and plant species. In fact, Wielkopolska has a tradition in protecting natural beauty, a case in point, there is a glaciar erratic boulder in the village of Budziejewko which has been under protection since 1840. A bit later, in 1907, there was the first nature reserve set up in the Ciszewskie Woods.
Today the Great Poland boasts more than a hundred nature reserves encompassing an area of almost 6,000 hectares. There are also as many as thirteen landscape parks and 4,000 nature monuments. Consequently, over one-third of Wielkopolska is under some form of protection.
