the vegetation on the hills hasn't remained intact and has been subject to heavy anthropogenic influence for the last two centuries. in the first half of the 19th century a landscape garden was laid down on the orekhovaya hill. during the siege of leningrad (1941-1944) the battlefront ran through the hills and they became almost completely deforestated. german artillery positions shelling the city were situated on the voronya hill. the hills are still a popular ski resort. the surrounding area is totally devoid of forests and mostly built up. the nearest railway station, mozhayskaya (formerly duderhof) of the ligovo-krasnoye selo-gatchina railroad (constructed in 1859), is situated immediately to the west of the hills.