Vlčnov's Environment

Vlčnov’s Environment

Written by Pavel ŠNAJDARA – District Authorities in UH – December 1, 2000

From the natural science point of view, the environment surrounding Vlčnov is very significant because of the occurrence of endangered plant and animal species. During springtime, one can admire the blue carpets of alpine squill, which forms the richest population in southeastern Moravia, in the Vlčnov Grove. This grove is a protected area and has been since 1956. On the other hand, the Kovářův Žleb Reservation is famous for being the only locality where hairy flax and goldilocks aster grow. Apart from the above-mentioned reservations, the surroundings of Vlčnov are enhanced by a wide range of rare and protected plant and animal species. Meadows ablaze with flowers boast early-purple orchids, Italian starworts, cross gentians, marsh gentians, great pasque flowers, lash gentians, and multi-coloured spurges. Thermophilous plant communities support a wide range of rare butterflies, e.g. the swallowtail, meleager’s blue, adonis blue, great-banded grayling and southern sestoon. The fact that the village is located in a warm area underlines the occurrence of the praying mantis. Apart from plants and insects, the Vlčnov region is also known as a renowned area by ornithologists, who have recorded such rarities as the scops owl, peregrine falcon, red-footed falcon, Eurasian wryneck, and hoop.

Hairy flax can be found only in one region and that in the Kovářův Žleb Reservation in southeastern Moravia. The original micro-localities have disappeared; the one that remains exists only thanks to the professional care provided by SCILLA, Vlčnov, a Czech Union of Nature Conservationists primary organisation.	Apart from other negative influences, the great pasque flower is also endangered by the browsing of deer. The use of small special protective cages helps in this case.
The renewal of scything in the locality as well as systematic sowing of summer adonis seeds in the original locality have ensured an increase in the population of this kind from 3 plants to 41 plants in the Kobylí Hlava Reservation.
The variegated iris has practically no seeds, but it is relatively easy to propagate by replanting broken roots at the end of August. The densest populations were discovered in the year 2000, growing in the lower and upper Miliová meadows, where they surprisingly take well to scything.	Within the Hluk Hilly Country (Hlucká pahorkatina), goldilocks asters were found to grow only in the Kovářův Žleb Reservation, where their micro-population is slightly on the increase thanks to the care provided by SCILLA, Vlčnov, a Czech Union of Nature Conservationists primary organization. Apart from scything, sowing in situ near the plants also helps significantly.

A brief summary of the countryside surrounding Vlčnov

Flora:
Two significant nature reserves are situated within the village boundaries; namely the Vlčnov Grove and the Kovářův Žleb Reservation. Rare elements of thermophilous fauna and flora are preserved in the Kovářův Žleb Reservation. These elements include critically endangered plant species, such as Italian starworts, goldilocks asters, hairy flax (the last White Carpathian locality), marsh gentians, cross gentians, fragrant orchids, and multi-coloured purges. The Vlčnov Grove Reservation boasts a rich alpine squill, tall primrose, and epipactis hacquetia population.

Fauna:
Thermophilous insects include the praying mantis, the large copper and further thermophilous family members of blues, coppers and hairstreaks. Ornithological fauna is represented by the following species: the pied flycatcher, the lesser-spotted woodpecker, the great-spotted woodpecker, the maudoc birding and whitethroat, hedge sparrow, and Eurasian wryneck.
Game animals living within the cadastre are: the brown hare, deer and wild boar, the pheasant, the partridge and fox.

Execution of hunting rights has been granted to and is managed by the Dřínek cadastre hunting association. Its chairman is Mr Bedřich Chaloupka, tel. +420 572 675 723, and its manager is Mr Josef Ondrůšek, tel. +420 572 675 021. The members of the hunting association own a hunting lodge, which is situated in a wood called Boří.
The local organization of the Czech Union of Nature Conservationists places its interests in the protection of nature. Its chairman is Mr Petr Pavelčík, tel. +420 572 675 636.