Na ostrově

Na ostrově is a small nature reserve tucked right next to the village of Tehov, in a valley area near Vlašim. It's a spot for travelers who enjoy quiet, unhurried walks through juniper-covered hillsides rather than crowded tourist stops.

What can you find at Na ostrově?

The reserve was created to protect a particularly rich stand of common juniper (Juniperus communis) — one of the last places in the region where the shrub still grows so abundantly, with several dozen specimens scattered across the slope. The terrain itself has a clear two-part structure: the upper part of the south-facing slope supports dry grassland communities, plant associations adapted to sun-baked, dry conditions, while the lower section transitions into dry heathland. This layered landscape means the character of the reserve shifts noticeably as you move across it, from open grassy patches to denser clusters of juniper bushes.

Why is this place special?

What sets Na ostrově apart is not just its vegetation but an extraordinary diversity of fungi living on the junipers themselves — researchers have documented more than 120 species here. Two of them are especially remarkable: Chloroscypha sabinae, whose only known site in the whole of Bohemia is this reserve, and Aleurodiscus norvegicus, which outside Scandinavia has been recorded nowhere else. For mycologists and nature enthusiasts, this makes the small reserve disproportionately significant from a scientific point of view.

What is the history behind this site?

For centuries, the slope served as a communal pasture where local villagers grazed goats and sheep. That grazing kept the land open and allowed dry grassland habitats to flourish. After 1950, traditional grazing stopped, and the site gradually became overgrown with trees and shrubs, putting its valuable habitats at risk. The turning point came when conservationists from Vlašim took over the care of the slope, and starting in 2006 they reintroduced grazing with a mixed herd of sheep and goats. This active management has helped hold back the encroachment of woody plants and preserve the open grassland conditions that the reserve's rare plants and fungi depend on.

Despite its modest size, Na ostrově is a good example of how active conservation management — deliberate human intervention rather than simply fencing an area off — can rescue unique habitats from being lost to overgrowth.

Frequently asked questions

When was the Na ostrově reserve established? The site was placed under protection in 1972.

What is the main reason for its protection? A rich population of common juniper and the rare fungal species that grow on these shrubs.

Are animals grazed within the reserve? Yes, since 2006 a mixed herd of sheep and goats has grazed the site to prevent the grassland from becoming overgrown with trees and shrubs.

Which fungal species found here are especially valuable? Chloroscypha sabinae, known in Bohemia only from this location, and Aleurodiscus norvegicus, which occurs outside Scandinavia only here.

What was the history of this site before it became protected? The slope was traditionally used as a communal pasture for goats and sheep; after grazing stopped in the mid-20th century it began to overgrow, until grazing was reintroduced in the 21st century.