Heraltický potok

Heraltický potok is a nature preserve located south of the village of Štemplovec, in the Opava district of the Moravian-Silesian Region in the Czech Republic. The protected area stretches from the western edge of the settlement of Zadky, with the road connecting Zadky and Jamnice marking its eastern boundary, while a road linking Zadky with the settlement of Kamenec forms the northern edge. The site sits at an elevation of 291 to 296 metres above sea level and was granted protected status in 1991, covering an area of 14.39 hectares.

What makes this place distinctive?

At the heart of the preserve is a meandering stream that has shaped the landscape over centuries into a patchwork of bends, oxbow channels and regularly flooded meadows. It is this natural, unregulated dynamic of the watercourse — free from human channel management — that has preserved a mosaic of habitats rarely found in more heavily engineered river valleys. Periodic flooding keeps the wet meadows in a condition that favours species dependent on specific wetland conditions.

Which species can be found here?

The variety of habitats supports a species-rich vertebrate fauna. Small water bodies within the preserve are home to the great crested newt and the European tree frog, both amphibians sensitive to water quality and habitat stability. The wet meadows, in turn, shelter the viviparous lizard and the grass snake, reptiles typical of moist, extensively managed land. Birdlife is especially significant here — the marsh harrier, hobby, corncrake and spotted crake have all chosen this site as a nesting ground. The presence of the corncrake and spotted crake is particularly notable, since both species are considered strongly threatened by the loss of meadow habitats across Central Europe, and their occurrence here signals that the wet meadows remain in good ecological condition.

Why is it worth visiting?

Heraltický potok appeals to visitors interested in birdwatching and lowland river-valley ecology rather than dramatic mountain scenery. The reserve's value lies in its completeness as an ecosystem — the meandering channel, oxbow branches and wet meadows function together, with each habitat element supporting a different set of species. It stands as a relatively rare example in the region of a largely undisturbed lowland stream valley, kept intact through more than three decades of legal protection.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Heraltický potok located? The preserve lies south of the village of Štemplovec in the Opava district, between the settlements of Zadky, Jamnice and Kamenec, at an elevation of 291–296 metres above sea level.

Since when has the area been protected? It was designated a nature preserve in 1991.

How large is the protected area? The reserve covers 14.39 hectares.

What animals can be observed here? Amphibians such as the great crested newt and the European tree frog; reptiles including the viviparous lizard and the grass snake; and nesting birds such as the marsh harrier, hobby, corncrake and spotted crake.

What is the terrain of the preserve like? A meandering stream channel with oxbow branches and regularly flooded, wet meadows.