Dřínek

Dřínek is a small nature reserve lying northeast of the village of Hrobčice, within the Mrzlice cadastral area, in the Teplice District of the Ústí nad Labem Region in the Czech Republic. Covering only 1.80 hectares, it protects one of the more notable remnants of xerothermic grassland found this far north in the Czech thermophytic zone.

Where exactly is the reserve located?

The site sits at an elevation of 354 to 395 metres above sea level, on sun-exposed slopes that create the warm, dry microclimate needed for its heat-loving plant communities. Its approximate coordinates are 50.53°N, 13.81°E. The reserve was officially declared on 1 June 2002 and is managed by the Regional Office of the Ústí Region, Department of Environment and Agriculture.

Why was this site given protected status?

The reserve exists to safeguard xerothermic grassland communities — dry, warmth-loving vegetation typically found on sunny, often rocky or calcareous slopes. Habitats of this kind are uncommon in the northern part of the Czech thermophytic area, which makes Dřínek a locally significant refuge for species that would otherwise struggle to survive this far north. Its slopes support populations of specially protected plants, several of which fall into the most critically endangered category recognised under Czech nature conservation law.

What species live here?

Among the most important protected plants is the feather grass Stipa tirsa, easily recognised by its long, feathery awns and typical of dry steppe grasslands. The reserve is also home to the Bohemian meadow pasqueflower (Pulsatilla pratensis subsp. bohemica), an endemic subspecies found only within the Czech Republic and valued precisely because of its restricted range. Reserve documentation also references a plant known locally as bělozářka liliovitá, visible in photographic records of the site.

What conservation status does Dřínek hold?

Under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classification system, Dřínek is designated as a Category IV protected area — a habitat/species management area. In practice, this means conservation efforts are directed at maintaining the specific habitat conditions the reserve's plant species need to survive, rather than excluding all human activity from the site.

Frequently asked questions

How large is the Dřínek reserve? The protected area covers 1.80 hectares.

When was the reserve established? It was formally declared on 1 June 2002.

Where is Dřínek located? Northeast of the village of Hrobčice, in the Teplice District of the Ústí Region, at an elevation of 354–395 metres above sea level.

Which plants are protected here? Mainly the feather grass Stipa tirsa and the endemic Bohemian meadow pasqueflower, both classified as critically endangered species.

Who manages the reserve? The Regional Office of the Ústí Region, Department of Environment and Agriculture.