Šumice, Belgrade

Šumice originated in the 1950s.[6] It was an effort to create the forested belt around the Belgrade (for example, Banjica Forest was created as a part of the same project).

The park is inhabited by hedgehogs and bats, but the main attraction in the park are the squirrels which often leave the park and climb on the trees in people's yards. Woodpeckers and blue tits, living in the park in the 1980s, are not seen anymore. By 2017 hedgehogs and squirrels also disappeared from the forest.

The park consists of two parts, separated by the Vojvode Toze street into western (larger) and eastern sections.

In the 1990s, in the general air of lawlessness, attempts were made to build concrete objects (shops, kiosks, etc.) in the park itself, but eventually they were removed. In spring 2007, the park was reconstructed. Maps, new wooden gazebos, benches, trash cans and children playgrounds were placed, while a new trim trail through the park was arranged.

The park covers an area of 9.8 ha (24 acres) and has almost 7 km (4.3 mi) of paths.[7] and has over 2,900 individual trees. They mostly include ash, black locust, oak and maple. After several consecutive dry years, almost 200 maple trees withered by 2013 and were replaced with the over 300 seedlings.[6][8] Another reconstruction began in September 2019. New objects include 25 rest pavilions, both open and covered, chess tables, new drainage system and lights.[7] Though the deadline was 31 December 2019, the works continued well into 2020. Works included construction of the children's playground and exercise attraction "Drveni grad" ("Woodville").[9]

On 20 May 2012, group of 20 people hastily entered the forest's section between the Sport Center and the Ustanička street, armed with chainsaws and started to cut the trees. Citizens from the buildings across the Ustanička immediately alerted the authorities, even physically confronted the perpetrators and filmed them with phones. After cutting seven maple trees, which were over 40 years old, the felons ran away as the inspectors, police and later even the mayor of Belgrade Dragan Đilas arrived at the spot. It turned out that it was a private job of the Sport Center's manager who wanted to illegally clear the land so he could build a balloon sports hall. As the city is the owner of the center, he was fired right away and later charged. The city instantly planted ten new maple trees instead of the seven which were cut.[8][10]