Ponětovice – a regional meadow by the cycle path
In Ponětovice, near Brno, we established a species-rich grassland using regional seed in the autumn of 2026. On a 1,000 m² site located near a cycle path, we sowed a mixture of herbs, grasses and clovers, supplemented with seeds collected using a brush. The aim is to increase the species diversity of the agricultural landscape and to create vegetation that will benefit both nature and practical farming.
What makes this site interesting?
The site is situated on a flat plot of land with chernozem soil, which was previously used as arable land. Sunflowers were grown here before the vegetation was established. The site forms part of the Stejskal family farm, which operates in the Brno area.
An interesting aspect is the combination of promoting biodiversity with the practical use of the land. It consists of a single contiguous area, from which a 1,000 m² section has been set aside and sown with a regional grass mixture. Biomass from this newly established vegetation could, in future, be used as hay for horses or for other plots managed by the farm. The remainder of the area serves as a run for hens in a mobile henhouse, where a standard grass mixture has been sown.
What plants will grow here?
A seed mixture comprising approximately 35 % grasses and 65 % herbs and clovers was prepared for sowing. The seeds come from previously established sites in Brno and Lednice, from Pannonian collections and from brush mixtures.
The grasses sown include, for example, rock fescue (Festuca rupicola), sweet vernal grass (Anthoxanthum odoratum), slender koeleria (Koeleria macrantha), bearded melic (Melica ciliata) and stiff timothy (Phleum phleoides). Herbs represented include, for example, woodland sage (Salvia nemorosa), meadow sage (Salvia pratensis), Pannonian yarrow (Achillea collina), scabious (Centaurea scabiosa), common carrot (Daucus carota), common daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare), St John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) and cream scabious (Scabiosa ochroleuca). The mixture is supplemented by clovers and other legumes, such as common kidney vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria), bird’s-foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), sand sainfoin (Onobrychis arenaria), hairy oxytropis (Oxytropis pilosa) and mountain clover (Trifolium montanum).
Brush mixtures obtained by collecting seeds from existing stands also form a significant part of the sowing. This method makes it possible to obtain a diverse mixture of plant seeds from selected source sites.
What is the aim of this sowing?
The aim is to create a species-rich grassland that will enhance the agricultural landscape along the cycle path and provide suitable conditions for pollinators and other organisms.
At the same time, we are exploring ways to combine the ecological function of the vegetation with its practical use. The biomass produced could, in future years, be used to produce hay for horses or utilised on other parts of the farm. The established vegetation cover can also help protect the soil and reduce soil drying.
Preparing the site involved several steps. At the end of September, a standard high-yield grass mixture was initially sown, as the correct procedure for establishing vegetation from regional seed was not known when work began. After it had emerged, the area was ploughed on 15 October 2026 and subsequently tilled. In the second half of October, a regional mixture of herbs, grasses and clovers, supplemented with brushwood, was sown. A total of approximately 2 kg of seed was applied to the 1,000 m² area. On 21 October, the area was rolled to ensure better contact between the seeds and the soil.
How will the vegetation develop in future?
We will monitor the development of the vegetation over the coming growing seasons. We will focus on the emergence of the sown species, their abundance and their ability to establish themselves in agricultural soil conditions.
In the early years, appropriate management will be crucial to support the development of the target species and limit unwanted competing vegetation. Future use of the vegetation can then be adapted to its actual development and the needs of the farm.
The aim is to gradually establish a diverse grassland and herbaceous vegetation along the cycle path in Ponětovice, which will support biodiversity whilst also offering practical benefits for local land management.