The landscape is changing
The plateau of Krušné hory (Ore Mountains) now looks largely deserted. However, people lived here for centuries. Less than a kilometre from where we are standing now, the large village of Ebersdorf (Habartice), recorded as early as the 14th century, used to be situated. In its surroundings there were small fields in the drier locations, meadows in the wetter ones, and here and there some woods. The brook in front of us meandered freely and spilled into a strip of wet meadows, which were regularly mowed; on the hills to the right and left the inhabitants of Ebersdorf grew some crops for their livelihood. Many plants and animals had always thrived in such a varied landscape.
This was the case for centuries until the middle of the 20th century. Then everything changed. Settlements disappeared, farmland was consolidated into huge blocks and, to make it easier to farm, brooks were trapped in straightened, excavated channels. Although the landscape was almost devoid of people, it became much poorer in natural terms. And all the now valuable water drained away as quickly as possible without benefit.
Correcting the sins of the past
It’s high time to undo at least some of what our ancestors did wrong. Restoring the nature that was destroyed in the past is called revitalisation. In the case of watercourses and wetlands, this means filling the excavated channels and letting the water flow and meander across the meadows again. Sometimes it is necessary to create a new watercourse bed. Here, the landscape still ‚remembered‘ the original brook, with relatively large parts of the original channel still intact. So only a bit of help was needed for the water to return to where it once flowed.
Revitalisation of Mokřadní potok
Between 2009 and 2010, the state carried out extensive revitalisation of watercourses in the nearby Černá louka (Black Meadow) Nature Reserve. However, the sections of brooks outside the reserve boundaries were not addressed at that time. Therefore, the Czech Union for Nature Conservation decided to revive one of the important tributaries, unofficially called Mokřadní potok.
Between 2023 and 2024, the natural form of this brook was restored for almost one kilometre between the road and the nature reserve boundary. Subsequently, this trail was also built. This would not have been possible without the supportive attitude of the landowner and a significant financial support from Finish brand, as well as from the European Union’s Operational Programme Environment. The project documentation was prepared and fieldwork carried out by Teren Design, a company from Teplice.
Let’s take a look.
Nice, isn’t it? Step into the mini-trail and take a look inside the revitalised wetland. After less than 100 metres, it will lead you to a viewing platform, where you can see everything that lives and grows here. Just please be respectful of nature. Especially during the breeding season for birds and mammals (i.e. during spring and early summer) and during the grouse wintering season, stay on this trail and do not enter its surroundings. And definitely keep your dogs on a lead.
Other projects
Wetland protection and restoration is very important. This is also the aim of the long-term project Water for the Czech Landscape, which is backed by the Czech Union for Nature Conservation in cooperation with Finish brand. Together, they have revitalised sites across the Czech Republic. In addition to Mokřadní potok, for example, a site in the vicinity of Mount Blaník, a site near Hoříněves in the Hradec Králové Region or V Krejdách site near Žďár nad Sázavou.