Fragments of the Pannonian steppe in the heart of Brno
The lawns at Špilberk are getting a real hard time of it, too. We are therefore restoring the southern slopes, which are exposed to the sun and drought, using hardy species from the Pannonian steppes. We are testing whether they can transform the drying-out lawns into more varied and resilient vegetation.
Why Špilberk?
Špilberk Castle dominates the Moravian capital, largely thanks to its strategic location on one of Brno’s highest hills (the ‘Špica of Brno’). This solitary hill in the midst of dense urban development is not only a strategic site in the event of a siege, but also plays a strategic role within the city’s green spaces!
The slopes of Brno’s ‘Špica’ are covered by an extensive park, which forms a green oasis and, together with the castle, has been designated a National Cultural Monument. However, as climate change progresses, as is the case throughout Brno, parts of the grassland are facing excessive climatic stress, particularly on the southern slopes of Špilberk. A significant proportion of the grasslands here are situated on sloping planes, which exposes them directly to the intense South Moravian sun; the vegetation is drying out, becoming patchy and is often dominated by annual grasses and herbs.
How do we restore lawns here?
We therefore endeavour, in collaboration with the Veřejná zeleň města Brna, to restore degraded lawns using our experimental Pannonian regional seed mixture, which we sow in selected parts of the park into partially damaged grass cover or use for the complete restoration of certain sections of the lawn. Given the high exposure of the lawns, the most suitable species are the hardiest ones we collect in Pannonia, i.e. primarily species from the Pannonian steppes.
Our efforts are further complemented by a small demonstration Pannonian steppe, which we are establishing near the newly built technical facilities for green space maintenance. This will introduce park visitors to plants typical of the Pannonian region right in the centre of Brno.
Who do we work with?
This plot was created thanks to the collaboration between the PannFlora project team with the Veřejná zeleň města Brna.