Arboretum 2026 — A Tale of Two Worlds | Društvo naturistov k naravi

Uroš Frece stands by the little park train of Arboretum Volčji Potok, which he drives himself — Uroš Frece by the little train he's been driving around Arboretum Volčji Potok for years.

They say Arboretum Volčji Potok is a place where nature speaks a thousand languages. But when Društvo naturistov "K naravi" walks in, the park speaks above all the language of pure enjoyment, laughter, and complete relaxation.

This has, by now, twice-yearly tradition is looked after by our own Uroš Frece — a man who isn't just a member of our club, but a top-tier logistics wizard. Uroš has, in fact, cracked the perfect recipe for experiencing nature in all its extreme beauty while making sure nobody suffers any excessive sporting injuries along the way.

The little train — Uroš's secret weapon

The Arboretum, you see, is enormous. The loop around all those trees and flowerbeds is long, there's simply too much beauty packed into one place, and our members — let's be honest — need a bit of "sparing." Why walk, when our Uroš happens to have a proper secret weapon under his thumb (and his steering wheel) in the park? As a side gig, he drives the park's official little train, which means our outings quickly turn into a VIP expedition. Uroš loads us up, starts the engine, and, like a proper castle coachman, drives us comfortably through all the beauty, while we simply sit back and take it all in like royalty.

View through the train window of a path lined with blooming rhododendrons and azaleas — A view through the train window — past rhododendrons and azaleas, without taking a single step.

Two very different faces of one expedition

This traditional expedition of ours has two completely different, but equally delightful, faces:

The April flower charge: When the Arboretum explodes into a sea of tulips, we confidently ride past the pedestrians. While others are already puffing slightly uphill, our crew cruises by millions of colourful blooms with the wind in our hair and a grin on our faces. Perfect harmony with nature, without a single blister!
The December light magic: When thousands (or millions, who's counting) of Christmas lights switch on, the park turns into a glowing fairytale. We're on foot this time, it's cold outside, huddling under a neighbour's arm... but under Uroš's leadership it becomes such a magical, intimate atmosphere that you forget about your frozen fingers and simply bask in the glow of the Milky Way brought down to earth.

The park's little train rides past a colourful bed of yellow and purple tulips — The little train rides past a colourful bed of tulips — without a single blister.

A waterfall surrounded by tulips and spring blossoms in the Arboretum — A waterfall surrounded by tulips — one of the stops on Uroš's little-train tour.

Perfect harmony with nature, without a single blister! — Branko Strnad

The full-parking-lot syndrome

But no matter how comfortable the train ride is, Uroš's real logistical challenge only begins once the official part is over. Heading toward the exit sets off the well-known "full-parking-lot syndrome."

Club members sit in the train carriages during their ride through the Arboretum — The crew on the go — the company, as always, excellent.

Once we're all gathered among the cars, a spontaneous eclipse of every navigation device seems to occur — nobody simply knows how to drive home anymore. Under the spell of all that beauty, whether blooming tulips or festive lights, the parking lot becomes our secondary home. Car engines stay off, nobody wants to be the first to turn the key. Conversations unfold, laughter echoes off the sheet metal, and plans for the future get hatched right there on the bonnets. This is the genuine extension of the outing, where we prove that we simply have too lovely a time together to rush off, each into their own daily routine. Thanks to Uroš for "sparing" us so nicely with the little train, that we're left with plenty of energy for chatting in the parking lot!