Exciting News: Rare Pasqueflowers Start to Bloom on Havranice Heath

Wild horses that come from Exmoor in England have been playing an important role in preserving the heath area for several years. Because of their presence, the rare pasque flowers have started to grow again after being absent for quite some time.

Since 2021, these flowers have been blooming here consistently each year and are one of the first signs that spring is arriving. Currently, only a few of these flowers are visible, but as the warmer days of March approach, the pasque flowers will significantly multiply throughout the landscape and paint the entire hillside a beautiful purple.

In addition to the pasque flowers, other small plants are thriving in the vicinity of Havraníky. This is due to the fact that aggressive grasses are no longer overpowering them. The friendly horses, which have been grazing on Havraníky Heath since the spring of 2018, have contributed greatly to this improvement, aiding in the preservation of another steppe habitat in Milovice, Central Bohemia.

The large-flowered pasque flower is considered a highly endangered species and is protected in Czechia. It typically blooms in early March and can be found in the Podyjí National Park, located at the western edge of its natural range. However, in the past, Havraníky became so overgrown that the flowers only bloomed occasionally. In 2021, they made a significant comeback, “flooding” the entire hillside with their blooms. This year, the pasque flowers are starting to bloom once more and may reach full bloom by mid-March.

Pastures near Havraníky

A new pasture has also been recently established close to Havraníky, which is known as Pastures near Havraníky. This area was developed by the National Park Administration, and since 2021, it has become the largest grazing area for Exmoor ponies, spanning 100 hectares, making it the biggest pasture for Exmoor horses in Podyjí. The horses have the opportunity to roam across a diverse terrain that includes clearings in forests and sparse woodlands filled with junipers – one of the most threatened habitats in Czech nature. The pasture is accessible to the public, but visitors can only enter on foot and must follow specific guidelines to ensure the safety of both visitors and the animals.