Horní louky

Horní louky is a nature reserve spread across the northern slope of the Studený vrch hill, about 2.5 km southeast of the village of Suchá Loz, in the Uherské Hradiště district. It lies within the White Carpathians Protected Landscape Area (CHKO Bílé Karpaty) and covers roughly 6 hectares, ranking among the most valuable surviving fragments of White Carpathian meadows in the region.

Why is this reserve protected?

The reserve was established for its landscape and botanical value. Horní louky preserves a well-kept enclave of former pastures and hay meadows that have developed into a rich, diverse plant community. A defining feature is the presence of orchid family species, growing alongside a large and varied group of accompanying plants. Beyond the meadow flora itself, the reserve also protects species associated with the ecotone — the transitional zone between meadow and forest — as well as genuinely forest-dwelling species, since the meadows border directly onto a complex of deciduous woodland.

What does the landscape look like?

The reserve's landscape is made up of flowering pastures interspersed with scattered clumps of trees and shrubs, gradually merging into the surrounding deciduous forest complex. This mosaic of habitats — from open meadow, through scrub, to closed woodland — allows a wide range of plant and animal species to coexist within a relatively small area. Horní louky sits close to the village of Suchá Loz itself, which lies in the valley of the Bystřička stream at the foothills of the White Carpathians.

How has meadow management changed over time?

Historically, the meadows of Horní louky were mown twice a year, a regime that kept them open and species-rich. Since 1991, mowing has been reduced to once a year. This shift in management has had visible consequences: despite the annual cut, species such as soft sedge and narrow-leaved meadow grass have been gradually spreading through the meadow vegetation, and in places coarser, stiff-stemmed grasses are expanding as well. The change illustrates how sensitive the balance is between traditional meadow use and the preservation of biodiversity.

Where exactly is the reserve located?

Horní louky lies within the cadastral territory of Suchá Loz, in the Uherské Hradiště district of the Zlín Region in eastern Czechia. The reserve occupies the northern slope of Studený vrch and forms part of the much larger White Carpathians Protected Landscape Area, a border region between Czechia and Slovakia renowned for its flower-rich meadows and old orchards.

Frequently asked questions

What can visitors see at Horní louky? Flowering meadows with orchid species, together with a mosaic of pastures, scattered trees and shrubs, and deciduous forest typical of the White Carpathians landscape.

How large is the reserve? Horní louky covers about 6 hectares.

Why is the meadow mown only once a year? Since 1991 the mowing regime changed from twice to once a year, which has affected the species composition of the meadow vegetation.

Where is the reserve in relation to Suchá Loz? About 2.5 km southeast of the village, on the northern slope of Studený vrch.

Which larger protected area does Horní louky belong to? It is part of the White Carpathians Protected Landscape Area (CHKO Bílé Karpaty).