Access denied to Kabaty locals

Many have trespassed in the estates to get to the woods, and some resourceful locals have even managed to get keys to the estates' gates.

Previously, the public could easily access the forest, but ring-fenced housing estates have cut off shortcuts into the forest via ul. Nowoursynowska or through ul. Moczydłowska.

Residents say both Warsaw City Hall and the Ursynów district authorities failed to designate access roads or car parks to the forest when the new developments were at the planning stages. According to Monika Beuth-Lutyk, from the press office at Ursynów's district office, the spatial development plan includes a point on creating good access points to the forest, with car parks and small restaurants. "We are not doing anything at the moment, though, as we have more urgent expenditures. The plots are private, and thus separated," she said. She also says that as Kabacki Forest is a nature reserve, it would be severely damaged by large roads.

Meanwhile, the chief architect of Warsaw, Michał Borowski, says his hands are tied on the issue. He claims that land-owners could fence the whole area if they wished and the city authorities could do nothing to change it. "I wish the public authority had more power than the private owners," he complained.