Stepping stones
This stepping stone, immediately following on from Košťálov SCI, is located on west to south-west facing slopes, at the foot of Jezerka and Košťál hills, near the village of Teplá. White slopes under Košťálov are a diverse place with thermophilous grasslands, where steep slopes with loose vegetation and eroded slopes with exposed substrate create suitable conditions for endangered species. For example, golden flax and another flax species Linum tenuifolium, common globularia, the crownvetch species Coronilla vaginalis, and black salsify flower here. Ground beetles run among the plants. The warm environment suits the nimble sand lizard, slowworm and smooth snake. A more detailed site survey is still pending. Who knows what splendour is still hiding there.
Threats and management measures
The site is vulnerable due to overgrowing of steppe vegetation with shrubs and trees spreading from the surrounding stands (hawthorn, dog rose, blackthorn, ash). Firstly, it is necessary to get rid of self-seeding woody plants, and subsequently maintain the site by grazing and mowing.
Old fruit trees on the southwest to southeast facing slopes at the foot of Lipská hora (689 m. a.s.l.) are gradually overgrowing with shrubs. Despite this, forest-free areas have been preserved in places, where semi-natural dry grasslands and meadows with moor grass remain to this day. The native oak-hornbeam forests and mixed ash-alder alluvial forests are also valuable. Fringed gentian, hoary ragwort, European Michael-mas daisy and erect clematis bloom on this remarkable site. Along with other flora, they are attractive for insects, mainly Jersey tiger and Nickerl's fritillary. Those who stay still for a while can observe, among others, sand lizard or slowworm.
Threats and management measures
The site is threatened by gradual overgrowth by shrubs and self-seeding woody plants (hawthorn, dog rose, blackthorn, ash). Restoration is planned in the form of scrub and self-seeding plant elimination, leaving solitary fruit trees. The restored orchard will then be maintained by grazing or mowing.
Protection at the site aims to preserve semi-natural dry grasslands and shrubs growing on calcareous subsoils. The site has great potential for expanding these habitats again, which will subsequently provide space for the further occurrence of important and endangered thermophilous species. However, for the time being, a botany lover can marvel at the two milk-vetch species Astragalus exscapus and Astragalus onobrychis as well as purple mullein. Ground beetles, Jersey tiger, sand lizard, and smooth snake will please animal lovers.
Threats and management measures
Due to abandonment of traditional land use at the end of the 20th century, the site is overgrown with shrubs and self-seeding woody plants. The management of the site consists of cutting shrubs and self-seeding woody plants (hawthorn, dog rose, blackthorn, ash), leaving solitary trees (mainly oaks and fruit trees), with subsequent maintenance of the forest-free area by mowing or grazing by mixed herds of sheep and goats.
The site is located in the central part of the České středohoří, on the left bank of the Elbe gorge, above the village of Dolní Zálezly. It consists of sunny rocky slopes. The occurrence of steppe grasslands is valuable and the plants covering the rocks are interesting. As for trees, there are mainly hornbeam and oak. In spring, the pasqueflower subspecies bohemica and leafless iris bloom on the hillside. Golden feather grass completes the steppe impression. The site is the northern most location of green lizard occurrence in the Czech Republic. It is accompanied by another reptile - smooth snake. Thermophilous oak forests are an ideal place for the life of the stag beetle, the beetle giant of Czech nature.
Threats and management measures
The site is threatened by overgrowth of slopes and terraces by shrubs and self-seeding woody plants (hawthorn, dog rose, blackthorn, ash). The lack locust tree is spreading from the surrounding vegetation. The management of the site will consist of reducing undesirable tree species and creating suitable habitats for the main target species - the green lizard.
The basalt rock formation "Kočka" is a landmark that rises near the village of Žitenice. Especially on older maps, one can find the name "Sovice" ("The Owl") for this place. The place is frequently visited by tourists. Former orchards on the eastern slope of the hill, where the thermophilic lawns have been preserved, attract the conservationists' attention. In addition, there is unique rock vegetation, and maintained meadows are also important for life. Every year, the endangered spring pheasant's eye and erect clematis bloom here. Scarce swallow tail and Meleager's blue butterflies have found a suitable place to live here. Just like on all thermophilous habitats, reptiles thrive at Kočka. Sand lizard basks on the stones. Here and there, slowworm or smooth snake slither through the grass. The site is near Satan hill which is part of White Slopes SCI near Litoměřice.
Threats and management measures
The site is threatened by overgrowth of steppe habitats by the spread of shrubs and self-seeding woody plants (hawthorn, dog rose, blackthorn, ash). The aim of management interventions will be to eliminate undesirable expansion of shrubs and subsequent mowing or grazing of grassland.
Kostelní vrch is a less distinctive hill of the Litoměřice part of the České středohoří. It is situated east of the Deblík mountain massif (459 m a.s.l.). The site is an important migration bridge between the Elbe gorge and Tlučeňské valley, where the important sites of Krkavčí skály, Holý Hill near Hlinná, and Hradiště are located. The visitor can admire the preserved steppe vegetation covering the tops of the rocks; the northern sides are covered with oak and hornbeam. In hot months, the "hair" of the rare speargrass species Stipa zalesskii flutters in the wind. However, it is not the only speargrass species: European feather grass also spreads here. In spring, the blooms of the pasqueflower subspecies bohemica please the eye. The hill provides suitable conditions for weevils. The warmth is suitable for sand lizard, slowworm, and smooth snake.
Threats and management measures
The steppe levels of Kostelní vrch are threatened by overgrowth by shrubs and self-seeding woody plants, and in some places, wood small-reed and bramble bushes spreading. The aim of management interventions will be to remove the undesired expansion of shrubs, followed by mowing of the grassland.
The project site spreads across the southern part of the České středohoří near the town of Třebenice, on the southern foot of Košťál hill with the ruined castle of Košťálov on its top. Remnants of steppe grasslands have been preserved on the rocks, which host rare thermophilous fauna and flora. The occurrence of spring pheasant's eye and the pasqueflower subspecies bohemica is the most interesting. Together with other flowers, they attract Lulworth skipper or silver-spotted skipper. It is also possible to observe the internationally protected Jersey tiger with its colourful wings. Sand lizard, slowworm, and smooth snake deserves the visitors' attention as well.
Threats and management measures
The site is threatened by overgrowth by shrubs and self-seeding woody plants (hawthorn, dog rose, blackthorn, ash); spreading and re-sprouting of the invasive black locust from former planting can occur as well. The proposed management interventions are cutting of undesired shrubs with subsequent grazing or mowing.
The site is protected thanks to the remains of steppe vegetation and the old, rather large, cherry orchard. In the past, forestry caused harm to Líska hill. Afforestation by mainly black pine, larch, and Norway spruce harmed the local wildlife. Nevertheless, valuable remnants of semi-natural dry grasslands, native shrubs, oak and hornbeam forests have not disappeared completely and provided suitable conditions for the highly endangered spring pheasant's eye, blooming here in the spring. The blue flowers of the purple milk-vetch and another milk-vetch species Astragalus austriacus please the eye as well. On hot summer days, tufts of golden feather grass ripple on the slopes. Sand lizard, slowworm, and smooth snake enjoy the warmer environment. Insects like to feed on the old and dead oak wood, especially the nocturnal click beetles.
Threats and management measures
The threat to this site lies in the continued succession and gradual absorption of fragments of steppe habitats by spreading shrubs and self-seeding woody plants (blackthorn, hawthorn, dog rose, ash). The old cherry orchard at the foot of the hill is overgrown as well. The proposed management allows for removal of undesirable shrubs and self-seeding woody plants, both on the top part of the hill and in the cherry orchard at the foot. The cleared areas will be then maintained by grazing or mowing.
In the undergrowth of fruit trees, broadleaved dry grasslands are hidden; in wetter places, oatgrass meadows can be found. Valuable steppe and forest steppe communities of plants and animals are bound to the diverse landscape, where forest-free areas with bushes alternate with mature trees. As for flora, the yellow flowering hoary ragwort will catch the eye. The garden tree-mallow will dazzle with beautiful pink flowers. The site is suitable especially for invertebrates. Jersey tiger, dryad, and high brown fritillary fly in the orchards under Lovoš. Here and there, ground beetles' wing covers shine in the grass. Just like on other stepping stones, we can also find sand lizard, slowworm, and smooth snake here.
Threats and management measures
The threat to the site is increasing overgrowth of forest-free fragments by the surrounding shrubs, self-seeding woody plants, and re-sprouting fruit trees (plum trees). The proposed measures envisage restoration of the orchard, which will consist of the removal of undesirable shrubs and self-seeding woody plants, with subsequent maintenance of existing and newly established grassland.
These extensive orchards lie under Blešenský vrch (520 m a.s.l.) near the village of Staré in the southern part of the České středohoří. We can find cherry, plum, pear, and apple trees here. Its undergrowth consists of broadleaved dry grasslands. We owe the fact that in some places this unique environment of world importance has survived to the old residents who have not stopped maintaining the grasslands. As a result, we can still enjoy the occurrence of violet-blooming thistles - dwarf thistle and woolly thistle. Astragalus austriacus and dragon's teeth have smaller, yet beautiful flowers. Sand lizard, slowworm, and smooth snake are typical animals of these orchards. Those who stay a while here will definitely hear the song of the Eurasian wryneck.
Threats and management measures
The area is valuable due to the historical occurrence of orchards and the survival of old fruit trees with forest-free areas. After management stopped, the orchards became overgrown with shrubs and self-seeding woody plants (hawthorn, dog rose, blackthorn, dogwood, ash, plum trees); these must be suppressed by planned interventions. Shrub-free areas will be subsequently maintained by grazing and mowing.
