Bělečský písník

Bělečský písník is a protected nature reserve on the western edge of the village of Běleč nad Orlicí in the Hradec Králové Region, roughly three kilometers east of Hradec Králové and three kilometers west of Třebechovice pod Orebem. Once a sand pit, this nearly four-hectare site has become a valuable natural habitat since mining stopped.

What is this place?

Bělečský písník formed on the site of a former sand quarry — a case where past human industry unexpectedly gave rise to a rich ecosystem. The poor, peat-based soils exposed after extraction ended allowed plant communities typical of wetlands and boggy terrain to take hold. The area was granted legal protection on August 23, 1983, and is now managed by the Regional Authority of the Hradec Králové Region.

The main reason for protecting the site is its population of round-leaved sundew (rosnatka okrouhlolistá), a carnivorous plant that thrives on acidic, nutrient-poor ground. The sundew population at Bělečský písník is among the largest in eastern Bohemia, making the site an important spot on the region's nature conservation map.

What wildlife lives here?

The pools of water left behind by sand extraction became breeding grounds for amphibians, including the fire-bellied toad (blatnice skvrnitá) and the marsh frog (skokan skřehotavý). Along the edges of the protected area, visitors may encounter the sand lizard (ještěrka obecná) and the dice snake (užovka obojková). The variety of habitats — from open water to peat bog to drier patches of ground — supports a range of species that struggle to find similar conditions elsewhere in the region.

Can you visit?

The entire Bělečský písník area is fenced off and entry is prohibited — the land is privately owned. This restriction protects the fragile habitats, including the sundew colonies and amphibian breeding sites, from disturbance and trampling. The site can still be appreciated from outside, along the boundary of the protected area, which lets visitors take in its landscape value without disturbing the delicate ecosystem inside.

Why does it matter?

Bělečský písník is a striking example of how former industrial activity — in this case, sand extraction — can, decades later, give rise to a valuable natural habitat. The site illustrates ecological secondary succession in action: where excavators once worked, sundews now bloom and amphibians breed. For anyone interested in the nature of the Hradec Králové area, it's a worthwhile stop, though one best appreciated from a distance rather than up close.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Bělečský písník located? On the western edge of the village of Běleč nad Orlicí, about three kilometers from Hradec Králové and three kilometers from Třebechovice pod Orebem, in the Hradec Králové Region.

What was this site originally used for? It was a sand pit. After extraction ended, the exposed land naturally developed vegetation typical of poor, boggy soils.

What species is protected here? Primarily the round-leaved sundew — one of the largest populations of this carnivorous plant in eastern Bohemia.

Can visitors enter Bělečský písník? No — the area is fenced and privately owned, and entry is prohibited. It can only be viewed from outside, along the boundary.

Since when has the area been protected? It was designated a protected natural monument on August 23, 1983, and is managed by the Regional Authority of the Hradec Králové Region.