UNIQUE KOPANECKÉ MEADOWS HAND- MOWED BY CONSERVATIONISTS AND VOLUNTEERS

During two days, almost a hundred mowers have been mowing the meadows in the beautiful surroundings of the National park, in a very steep and difficult to access terrain. Meadows with exceptional species diversity were already after the flowering aspect, but late mowing helps to preserve their uniqueness and unique species composition of plants. We can find here, for example pyramidal orchid (Anacamptis pyramidalis), burnt- tip orchid (Neotinea ustulata), orange lily (Lilium bulbiferum) or willow gentian (Gentiana asclepiadea).

From early morning, with the sunrise, the scythes bit into the undergrowth. The silence on the meadow was interrupted only by the traditional male polyphonic singing from the Horehronie region. We mowed the most valuable parts of Kopanecké meadows on an area of ​​more than 5 hectares.

Kopanecké meadows in the Slovak Paradise National Park, Slovakia are one of the most species-rich meadows in the world. In an area of ​​0,5 x 0,5 m grows 54 species of higher plants. These remote meadows went through a turbulent history and almost disappeared under the succession of the forest. After a successful restoration, they have been mowed for 6 years by conservationists and volunteers from Slovakia, Czech Republic, Poland, hand- mowing enthusiasts from the Slovak Mowing Association and local residents from the nearest villages Vernár and Telgárt.

The event is organized for the general public, which engages local communities in volunteer activities. We are very happy that the number of local participants is increasing year by year, and their memories are being revived, traditions are being renewed and their legacy is being maintained. We thank all participants who helped us save our most valuable natural resources and look forward to next year.

 Text, photo: Zuzana Streberová, Marek Leskovjanský, Peter Olekšák