A narrow area of the Udin boršt Karst terrace, except for rare forts from the Iron Age period (Arhovo Fort above Duplje, Klemenčkovo Fort near Letenice and Štucelj Fort above Polica near Naklo) and defence posts from ancient times, was not populated. The first villages began to emerge at the contact of Udin boršt with a fertile plane only around 12th and 13th centuries. At that time, they began shrinking the forest that was covering the territory north of Kranj until then. Since the 18th century until today, the clustered villages and roadside settlements have not changed significantly in location.
Some names of villages reflect the connection of their residents with Udin boršt. On impermeable surface in the eastern and northern parts, there was also marshy ground, which was indicated by the name of the village, Mlaka (Eng., Puddle). The connection with water was also in Žeje (Eng., Thirst), except that in this case the name indicates the absence of water. The name Duplje is associated with caves, similar to "duplje, occupied by birds" (Valvasor 1689). Vrhovnik and Koblar (1885) consider that the name of the village Strahinj was associated with caves, as well. The name stemmed from the word strohol, meaning a hollow trunk. However, Bezlaj (1995) disagrees and states that the origin of the name Strahinj was associated with fear. Cegelnica is associated with a place that is rich with clay, where bricks were fire-baked / burnt. Kos (1960) derives the name of the small village Novak as a place where the small village was built on grubbed up soil, while Tenetiše refers to the place where people were hunting with special tools called "tenetve" (i.e. hunting nets).
It is typical for all the villages in the vicinity of Udin boršt that the share of rural population is reducing, because the majority of the population in this area commutes to work to Kranj and Ljubljana due to its favourable traffic position. Changes in the structure of the population in these villages indirectly affect the slight decrease in forest area at the expense of construction of buildings that in recent times presents a growingly stronger load. Hafnar (2007) notes that the forest area in the southeastern part decreased by 30 ha, while on the other hand, some areas in the central part and near the Mlinščica stream have overgrown with forests.
Udin boršt (duke's boršt meaning duke's forest) most probably got its name after the archduke Karl V. (1564–1590), who managed and supervised the forest. Kos (1960: 65) explains that "boršt was primarily the forest that was neither intended nor allowed for common use". In the Middle Ages, only the aristocracy could enter the forest where they would hunt. Local people who were transporting wood could only enter if allowed by the landowners. It was also forbidden to cut wood, collect duff and forest berries (Ravbar and Prelovšek, 2005). The control over the area lessened and local farmers claimed it in the beginning of the 19th century.
In the life of the locals from villages around Udin boršt, the latter played an important role. In the Karst area, the precipitations are sinking into the ground and appearing above the ground once again in the form of springs. Major springs in the area of Udin boršt are: the constant spring in the Arneš Hole, Dupulnek Spring, spring below the entrance to the Great Lebinica Cave, Strahinj Spring, spring below the entrance to the Kadunec Spring Cave and two large and many small springs at the Želinjski Stream. In the past, the springs represented an important source of water to the locals, to which we are still reminded by village sinks (e.g., sinks in Zadraga, in Upper and Lower Duplje, etc.).
On the other side, the Karst caves offered a hiding place and shelter to the locals many times in the past. Thus, Valvasor also states (1689) that the locals were often hiding from the Turks in the "Felsen Grotte bei Duplach" or the Arneš Hole. Caves as hideouts were also important later, when the Turkish threat ceased (e.g., under the French during WWII).
Villages around Udin boršt
