Photo expedition to Ljel’chytski district (Tonjezh and Bukcha). Фотавандроўка па Лельчыцкім раёне (Тонеж і Букча).
Polesian oak, Tonjezh 2015. The oak tree is sacred to Belarusians. Regrettably, the Soviet and post-Soviet policy of “ameliorating” the Polesian (Pripet Marsh) wetlands has led to the loss of many free-standing oaks and oak groves.
Polesians have traditionally used oaks for dugout boats (chovjen – човен) and remains the favored tree in which traditional beekeepers place hollowed-out tree trunks (borts’ – борць) as hives for wild honey bees.
Палескі дуб, Тонеж 2015 г.
