Location
The plain cut through by the Barycz river is surrounded by the hills of Trzebnicki Ridge from the south and from the north by two morainic plateaux – Leszczynska and Kaliska. The valley of Barycz lies within the borders of two flat dales – Milicka and Zmigrodzka.

Barycz flows out in the marshes near Ostrow Wielkopolski, and flows into Odra river in the vicinity of Glogow. This river is a right tributary of Odra and is 136 km long.

Landscape
The diversity of landscape in the valley of Barycz arises from the complexity of the hydrologic network and from the variability of habitats. Dominant habitats are seasonally flooded meadows. You can find there also numerous fish ponds spread amidst the forests.

Ecosystem
There are two big forest complexes in the valley of Barycz – Milickie Forests and Ostrzeszowskie Forests. There are different types of forest in this province: you can find there alder carrs, marshy forests with oaks, willows and sycamores as well as dry, beech and pine forests. Thanks to the diversified water network of this region there are also numerous water, rushes, peat bogs and meadows plants to be found in the valley of Barycz.

Meadows
The biggest meadows complexes are located in the upper course of the Barycz river in the Greater Poland Voivodeship. Environmentally, the most valuable meadows are located near Odolanow. The Odolanów’s Meadows constitute of extensive complexes of sedge and grass assemblages as well as natural water and bog vegetations associated with flowing waters. You can find there such interesting species like: Senecio rivularis, Adder’s Tongue (Ophioglossum vulgatum) and a couple of Orchid’s species. Those meadows are also a nesting place for birds like: Corncrake, Lapwing, Common Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit, Redshank and in the spring Bean geese stop there during their migration. Moreover in Autumn after the mating season Green Toads, Common Toads, Common Spadefeet and Common frogs are to be found here.

Forests
There are multiple types of forests in this region, varying from marshy forests (e.g. alder carrs) to dry pine forests. Those forests are inhabited by fallow deers, elks, stone martens, pine martens, weasels and polecats. Birds are represented by species like: White-tailed eagle, Red kite and Black stork.

Ponds
Pond complexes are a characteristic feature of the landscape in the valley of Barycz river.
First ponds in this province were established in middle ages. The species most often bred in those ponds are: carp, tench, pike, white amur and silver carp. Moreover fish like: catfish, pike-perch, roach, crucian carp, perch and ruffe in the waters of the Barycz river.

The most precious complex of ponds called Stawy Milickie (Milickie Ponds) is famous for its rich avifauna. 137 species of birds regularly mates here. The most numerous species is greylag goose with 300-700 pairs nesting each year in the vicinity of Milickie Ponds. You can find Cranes, Bitterns and Marsh Harriers in the reeds. Also large colonies of Black-headed Gulls are common in this part of the province. On the ponds gather large numbers of Swans, Mallard Ducks, Pochards and Tufted Ducks. Cormorants and Grey Herons build their nests on the nearby trees. This region is also a resting and feeding place for migrating birds like: Shovelers, Wigeons, Garganeys, Goldeneye, Pintails and Bean geese.

The marshy terrains near the ponds are inhabited by numerous frogs and toads species. Also some species of small mammals like: Water Shrew, Muskarat, Ermine and Mink can be found in the vicinity of the Milickie Ponds.

Protection
The biggest Polish landscape park has been established in the valley of the Barycz river in order to protect the unique quality of this region’s nature. There are 27 nature monuments in this region and their number will probably increase. Nature reserve – Milickie Ponds (Stawy Milickie) is functioning within the borders of the Barycz River Landscape Park. It has been established in 1963 on the area of 5324 ha and is a valuable habitat for many rare bird species. The Milickie Ponds are also included among the Living Lakes. These are 24 lakes from around the world, considered as very valuable ecosystems (e.g. Lake Bajkal, Dead Sea, Balaton, Lake Victoria).