Janovský mokřad

Janovský mokřad is a nature reserve located southwest of the town of Nýřany, in the Plzeň-North district, spanning the administrative territories of Nýřany, Přehýšov and Úherce municipalities. Covering roughly 72 hectares, the reserve borders the D5 highway to the south and combines wetland habitats, fallow land and dry grasslands into a single protected mosaic.

How did this landscape come to be?

The site's story stretches back to 1360, when a large fishpond was established here, eventually growing to cover about 130 hectares. The pond remained in use for centuries until 1874, when it was drained to make way for coal mining that had begun in the surrounding area. For decades the land lost its wetland character entirely. That changed only when European beavers settled along the Luční stream south of the highway — their dams gradually began holding back water again, slowly recreating the marshy terrain that had once existed. Notably, this site was originally earmarked for a highway rest stop along the D5, but the plan was set aside in favor of nature protection.

Why was it protected?

The Janovský mokřad nature reserve was formally declared in June 2021, specifically to safeguard the local beaver population along with a number of rare bird species that had found suitable conditions there. Roughly 60 bird species have been recorded within the reserve's boundaries, including species critically endangered in the Czech Republic such as the ferruginous duck, red kite, white-tailed eagle and common crane.

Who grazes inside the reserve?

At the end of 2021, an enclosed grazing area was set up along the eastern edge of the reserve. That December, the first three wild horses of the Exmoor pony breed were introduced, soon joined by a herd of young aurochs-breed heifers. These animals act as natural land managers: by grazing on the grass, they help keep the valuable habitat open and prevent it from becoming overgrown with shrubs, which would be detrimental to ground-nesting birds and to the meadow vegetation.

Can visitors explore the reserve?

The eastern edge of the reserve is open to the public via a designated nature trail. Walking along it, visitors have a chance of spotting both the wild horses and the aurochs heifers grazing in the meadows, as well as observing wetland and waterfowl species in their natural setting.

Frequently asked questions

When was the Janovský mokřad reserve established? The reserve was declared in June 2021 and covers approximately 72 hectares.

What animals can be seen in the reserve? Besides the European beaver and numerous bird species (including the red kite, white-tailed eagle and common crane), the reserve's eastern edge is home to grazing Exmoor ponies and aurochs-breed heifers.

Is entry to the reserve free? Yes, the eastern part of the reserve is publicly accessible along a marked nature trail.

What existed on this land before the reserve? From 1360 to 1874, a large fishpond covering up to 130 hectares occupied the site, before it was drained due to the development of coal mining in the region.