Wysoka Ecopark – One year later

How a wind farm can support biodiversity and the local community

In September 2024, OX2 opened the Wysoka Wind Farm in the municipality of Wysoka in Poland. As our ambition is to develop nature-positive wind and solar farms by 2030, a nearby ecopark was established at the Wysoka wind farm.  Its purpose is to create a self-sustaining ecosystem where species can interact and evolve naturally, while at the same time providing educational and recreational value for the local community.

The Ecopark as an Integral Part of a renewable energy project

The Wysoka ecopark was designed as an integral element of the wind farm project. Measures supporting biodiversity and nature-based solutions were implemented to create a space that benefits both people and wildlife. The park is developing in line with natural processes, and its progress will be monitored in the coming years.

Park Zones with different functions and one shared goal. The park is divided into distinct zones, each serving a different purpose. One section features a municipal orchard and a recreational clearing where fruit trees of traditional Polish varieties and wild flowering shrubs have been planted. Another area features a land art installation, a tunnel made of willow bars arranged in a circular pattern, intersecting existing shrub willows.

During the project, one of the priorities was to use wood obtained during road repairs. The wood was used to build nesting boxes for birds and bats, as well as insect hotels and hedgehog houses. Local schoolchildren were involved in the construction of the houses. During the workshops, the children also planted a flower meadow, which will provide a habitat for pollinators.

One Year On, Visible Results in Nature and Everyday Life

This year, we visited the park with representatives of the Regional Environmental Protection Directorates. In accordance with the assumptions, the park is developing according to natural processes. We are very happy that our educational path, balance beam and old willow trees have become part of the children's daily route to school. The park is also popular with adults and entire families.

The meadow sown by the children has also blossomed again. The insect hotels (and sandy slopes) are fully occupied, and the next generation of bees will fly out in the spring. In the park, you can also eat apples of old local varieties – straight from the tree. The willow cuttings are also growing and will eventually form a willow avenue along the path to the school.

Looking Ahead

In the coming years, we will continue to monitor the ecopark to see how it develops and how it continues to serve both the local community and the enhancing biodiversity in the area. The Wysoka ecopark shows that renewable energy projects go perfectly hand in hand with nature protection.