Editing Pushchino (section)

===Forest, natural reserves and protected areas===

The Oka river draws an approximate line between [[coniferous]] and [[deciduous forest]]s. North of the Oka at Pushchino begins a mixed forest including [[spruce]] and [[birch]] that extends to [[Northern Russia]]. Pushchino itself and further south are characterized by broad-leaved forests, with a predominance of [[oak]], [[Tilia|linden]], [[elm]], [[ash (tree)|ash]], [[aspen]], and without any admixture of spruce, before giving way to cultivated land. Near the river [[willow]] trees grow in dense thickets.

Pushchino City has an active conservation program - Ecopolis - that has identified several areas now subject to conservation measures. These include:
# [[Lyubozhikha River Valley]]: a protected area is located at the foot of Pushchino hill. Wildlife species include nightingales, orioles, owls, and beavers.
# [[Teshilov]] hillfort: a historical monument that is now subject to state preservation. It is located 700 meters from the river Lyubozhikha. Earthwork ramparts and moat are well preserved. In 1925 [[archeological excavation]]s discovered a fortress on the site dating to the 12th century. The settlement was mentioned in Russian chronicles in 1147.
# [[Khokhla River Valley]]: this protected area lies 2.5&nbsp;km west of Lyubozhikha between the lower and upper roads to Serpukhov. This deep valley is renowned for its natural beauty, with dense forestation, meadow hills, limestone outcrops, and waterfalls. Rare flowers include [[forget-me-nots]], [[anemone]]s, [[gentian]]s, and [[coronilla elfwort]]s. The Zaoksky Forestry Commission reports an exceptional diversity of tree species; recent construction work imperils the reserve.
# [[Entomological]] Meadow: this protected area is located in the south-western outskirts of the city and occupies a meadow on slope of the right tributary of the Lyubozhikha river (Solonovka creek). The name of the river shows its direction (the old Russian word "Sologne", "posolon" meaning "going behind the Sun", that is, from east to west). Until the 1930 this was the site of a village (Solonovka). The meadow slopes are a home to rare species of butterflies: the red and ordinary [[melitaea]], [[small limenitis]], [[chalkhill blue]], [[Nordmannia spini]], skippers and others.
# Solonovsky Wood protected area: a deep ravine of Solonovka east from the Pushchino-Serpukhov road. "Gremyak" creek falls on limestone from high slope.
# Birch Grove protected area: a pure birch forest on the Solonovka tributary south of Pushchino (the Endova site).
# Oak Wood protected area: also known as Perlovskii Reserve, an area dominated by mature oak trees.
# Neglyadeyka River Valley protected area: a narrow strip of forested slopes of the eastern tributary of the Oka at the eastern boundary of Puschino with villages of Balkovo and Mitinki.