Baba – V bukách

Baba – V bukách is a nature reserve in the Vysočina Region of the Czech Republic, roughly half a kilometre east of the village of Chroustov, near the town of Bohdalov in the Žďár nad Sázavou district. The protected area was declared in 1990 and covers close to 45 hectares, sitting at an elevation between 605 and nearly 700 metres above sea level — making it one of the higher-lying protected woodlands in this part of the highlands.

What does the reserve protect?

The reserve's main purpose is to safeguard natural beech forest stands, including both acidophilic beech woods and richer, flower-rich beech forest types typical of the Vysočina highlands. Alongside the dominant European beech, the canopy also includes silver fir, with smaller numbers of Norway spruce and larch. This mix reflects what forests in the region looked like before large-scale forestry replaced many natural beech-fir stands with spruce monocultures.

Understorey plant life

The forest floor here is varied and typical of shaded, moist beech woodland. Species growing in the understorey include European asarabacca (wild ginger), lady fern, and touch-me-not balsam. Their presence points to damp, nutrient-rich soils and stable microclimatic conditions beneath the closed canopy.

Wildlife

The reserve is an important refuge for insect life, including numerous ground beetle species that favour moist, shaded leaf litter and decaying wood. Among birds, the black stork stands out as a highly endangered and disturbance-sensitive species, for which large, undisturbed forest complexes like this one provide essential nesting and foraging habitat. Smaller woodpecker species also inhabit the woods, along with the Eurasian eagle-owl, one of Europe's largest nocturnal birds of prey.

Why visit?

Baba – V bukách appeals to visitors looking for forest scenery close to its natural state, away from heavily developed tourist routes. Its quiet setting, elevated position, and well-preserved beech stands make it worthwhile for nature lovers, birdwatchers, and hikers exploring the Vysočina highlands. As a protected area, the reserve calls for respectful behaviour — staying on marked paths and avoiding disturbance to wildlife.

Conservation goal

The reserve's core aim is to let the forest ecosystem develop naturally, with minimal human interference, while limiting adverse external impacts on this valuable habitat. This approach allows future generations to observe what a beech forest looks like when left to its own successional processes.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the Baba – V bukách reserve located? It lies in the Vysočina Region, about half a kilometre east of the village of Chroustov, near the town of Bohdalov, in the Žďár nad Sázavou district.

When was the reserve established? It was declared a protected area in 1990.

How large is the reserve? It covers close to 45 hectares.

Which tree species dominate the reserve? Mainly European beech and silver fir, with some Norway spruce and larch.

What wildlife can be found here? The reserve is home to the black stork, the Eurasian eagle-owl, smaller woodpecker species, and numerous ground beetle species.