The direct surroundings
Farm Lator is situated in the small village Lator puszta (19 houses) at the border of Bukk National Park. The road that leads through the village stops being a public road just after the village. From there it will be a forestry road. This means that there is no serious traffic on that road. Maybe 1 car per half hour.
The gardens of Farm Lator are very rich of wildlife, with breeding pairs of Tawny Owl, Middle Spotted Woodpeckers, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Wryneck, Collared Flycatcher and 60 species of butterflies. More then 500 species of Moths have been recorded. Aesculapian snakes live in the old apple trees. A large population of Edible Dormouse lives in the holes. Several bat species breed in local wine cellars. Green lizards are seen on a daily base. The pair of Imperial Eagles that breeds nearby, shows itself regularly above in the sky. That goes for Black Storks too.
a Lesser Purple Emperor on a cherry tree in the garden
the Imperial Eagle crosses our farm regularly
This diversity in the gardens is partly due to the natural surroundings. The village’s surrounding is a great place to walk around and explore. There are marked tracks to several directions. Maps are available on the farm.
To the South, paths lead up to the lavaplateaus. These are of volcanic origin. They consist mainly of wasteland. Partly it is abandoned arable land and partly meadows for the local sheep and cows. The vegetation is open with flowerrich, rocky and shrubby grasslands. Some rare orchids, like Orchis Coryophora and Orchis Morio are flowering here in abundance. This various type of nature is very good for insects. Many butterflies have their home here. Dominating birds are Barred Warbler, Stonechat, Red-backed Shrike, Bee-eater, Corn Bunting and Yellowhammer. There is always a chance to meet with a hunting Eagle or a Hoopoe as well. The landscape is panoramic.
volcanic grassland with a shephard
To the North, roads lead you into extended forests, with here and there an open panoramic spot. The forests in this part of the Bukk mountains consist mainly of Oak and Hornbeam. The more humid valleys have Sessile Oak, but on the southern hills several Oak-species are growing typical for dry (mediterranean) forests. These open forests are extremely rich in rare plants and insects. Nine species of Woodpecker can be encountered here. Collared Flycatchers and Hawfinches are common. It is wonderful to walk here in springtime accompanied by the melancholic call of Grey-headed Woodpecker (unlike the sarcastic laughing of Green Woodpecker) and hoopoeing Hoopoe’s. In addition, there are good chances to meet with game.
it is still possible here to hike a day without meeting anybody
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