Jalovcová stráň

Jalovcová stráň is a small but ecologically significant nature reserve located about 1.5 km east of the village of Nedašov, in the Zlín district, at the eastern edge of the Bílé Karpaty (White Carpathians) protected landscape area. Covering just 8.63 hectares, it punches well above its size when it comes to conservation value — it protects one of the most extensive juniper-grown pastures in the entire district.

What's behind the name?

The reserve's name points directly to its main treasure: extensive stands of common juniper (Juniperus communis), which grow especially thick across the southern part of the site. It was precisely because of these spiny, silvery-green shrubs that the area was granted protected status back in 1982. Juniper pastures of this kind once dotted the White Carpathian landscape, shaped over centuries by sheep and cattle grazing on dry, sun-exposed slopes. As traditional grazing has declined, such habitats have become increasingly rare, turning Jalovcová stráň into something of a living relic of the old agricultural landscape.

A rich mix of grasses and wildflowers

Between the juniper bushes grows a surprisingly diverse carpet of grasses and herbs. Visitors with a botanical eye may spot corydalis, fringed gentian, columbine, and several orchid species — plants that have grown scarce across much of Central Europe as farming has intensified and extensive grazing has all but disappeared. Where small springs break the surface, patches of wet meadow form, supporting species typical of damp habitats, including narrow-leaved cottongrass and the musk orchid. This mosaic of dry grassland and boggy pockets packs an unusually high level of species diversity into a very small area.

Part of the wider White Carpathians landscape

Jalovcová stráň lies within the Bílé Karpaty Protected Landscape Area, a range renowned across Europe for its exceptionally rich flower meadows and dry grasslands, and recognized as a UNESCO biosphere reserve. The surrounding hills, crisscrossed by field boundaries, orchards, and old pastures, form the gentle, characteristic landscape of the Czech-Slovak borderland. Small as it is, the reserve plays an important role in this broader mosaic, helping maintain habitat continuity for pollinators and other species tied to open grassland.

Who should visit?

Jalovcová stráň appeals mainly to nature lovers, amateur botanists, and anyone seeking a quiet, little-visited corner away from crowded tourist trails. Because it holds official nature reserve status, movement within the site is restricted — visitors are asked to stick to marked paths and refrain from picking plants, so as not to disturb the delicate balance of the habitat. The area around Nedašov also invites further walks through the rolling hills of the White Carpathians, with views over nearby villages and orchards.

Frequently asked questions

How large is the Jalovcová stráň reserve? The protected area covers 8.63 hectares.

When was the reserve established? It was declared a nature reserve in 1982.

What is being protected here? Primarily extensive stands of common juniper, along with the rich meadow flora that accompanies them, including orchids and wetland plant species.

Where exactly is the reserve located? About 1.5 km east of the village of Nedašov, in the Zlín district, within the Bílé Karpaty protected landscape area.