Extraordinary trees
Nine trees growing in the area of Nature Park Goričko have the status of the valuable natural features of national treasure. All of these trees are exceptional because of their high age and stand out from others of their species either due to their size or due to special shapes. These trees are considered to be most sensitive to change and cannot be simply restored in the event of destruction. Thus it is important to preserve these trees and help them with indirect safety measures and various means to extend their lifespan. Major threats to these trees include death due to fungi infection and non-native invasive pests, such as chestnut gall wasp (Dryocosmus kuriphilus).
Two specimens of sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa) growing on Tetajni Hill (sl. Tetajni Breg) in Križevci in Prekmurje are among the thickest chestnut trees in Slovenia. One of them is more than 700 years old and grew as far as back as during Turkish invasions of the Goričko region. It is even drawn on military cards from the Austro-Hungarian period. Its extraordinary circumference can be measured at the size of 940 cm, he reaches ower 20 meters in height. Cornish oak in Trdkova, whose circumference is 493 cm, is easy to find by visitors, as it grows along the road. Noteworthy are also Sombotel’s chestnut in Gerlinci and chestnut in Markovci. The one in Gerlinci got circumference of 650 cm at its largest part. The chestnut in Markovci, unfortunately, died several years ago due to the fungi attack, bit its remarkable trunk is still an annual nesting place of Eurasian scops owl, a small and endangered owl species. Three of the trees recognized as valuable natural features can be found in village Kobilje – scots pine specimen in Golden Pit (sl. Zlata Jama), service tree on Martin’s Hill (sl. Martinov breg) and checker tree next to St. Martin’s Church in the center of the village. Service tree and checker tree belong to the rose family of plants, which includes most of the fruit trees, and are close relatives of the rowan. Checker tree in Kobilje is believed to be the oldest and thickest tree of its kind in Slovenia, its circumference measures at 277 cm. The municipality of Kobilje has chosen the image of its leaf for its municipal coat of arms. The last of the trees of valuable natural features is European beech, nicknamed Košeri, and grows in the forest on the border between Ivanjševci, Središče and Prosenjakovci.
