Pines, spruces and firs: where to admire evergreen trees in the capital

Pines and spruces are the most visible and common types of conifer trees that can be found in the wooded areas of Moscow. Walking in a forest where these trees grow brings a special pleasure: the air is saturated with healthy phytoncides and there is a special aroma of freshness, and the greenery is a joy to look at whatever the season of the year. Biologists from the capital’s Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection talk about the evergreen trees that can be found in the city and where in Moscow’s natural spaces to look for them.

In Bittsevo forest there are centuries-old spruce trees. They are located in the 26 th and 27 th quarters, and also in the Znamenskoye-Sadki estate. Preserved pure spruce forests are a great rarity in a city. They are notable because they have young trees in them, which shows that forest regeneration is underway. In the same natural area there are pine trees with a distinctive sturdy shape, which they have retained since the times when young saplings grew up in what were then open spaces.

There are ecological walking routes through Bittsevo forest. The three-kilometer-long circular path starts on Yasenevskaya Alley, on the Novoyasenevsky Prospekt side, and runs through a coniferous forest before coming to a spring and an ancient pond, dug in the 13 th century.

Native spruce forests and old pine forests are also preserved in the Losiny Ostrov national park. In Alexeevskaya Grove there are pine forests 150–200 years old. There is also a rare plant, the clubmoss, or ground pine. This evergreen herbaceous spore-forming perennial is included in the Moscow Red Book of Endangered Species.

Pine trees can be admired in Serebryany Bor — the natural area known for its pine forests, wetlands and Lake Bezdonny. There is a diverse range of plant life to be found here: in addition to pine trees there are lindens, maples, birches, ash trees, oaks, and also heather, an evergreen plant listed in the Moscow Red Book of Endangered Species.

In addition, there are evergreen trees in the east of the capital in the Kosinsky natural and historic park. Three lakes — Svyatoe, Beloe and Chernoe — and the valley of the Rudnevka River form a special landscape. There are marshy meadows along the banks of the river, and the southern shore of Lake Chernoe is covered with a small area of pine and birch trees. Bog huckleberry, marsh rosemary, as well as clubmoss, can be found in this area.

A visit to Biryulevsky Dendropark in Tsaritsyno natural and historical park will surprise those who consider that they know all about conifers. It was laid out in 1938 and has a wide variety of plantings. The park is home to 220 species of plants, including thujas and ball-shaped spruce trees. Notable exotic coniferous species include Siberian cedar pine, Siberian fir, Weymouth pine, monoecious fir, and Pseudotsuga menziesii, or Douglas fir, a tree native to North America.

Moscow is characterized by a rich biodiversity of natural areas. During the walk, citizens can feel the harmony of nature and be energized by its energy, as well as learn new things about the world of flora and fauna.