Přesyp u Malolánského

Přesyp u Malolánského is a small but botanically remarkable nature monument tucked at the edge of a forest, roughly 200 meters northwest of the hamlet of Malolánské, in the municipality of Lány u Dašic in the Pardubice district of the Czech Republic. Covering only 2.65 hectares, this protected site punches well above its size in terms of ecological significance.

What exactly is this protected area?

The site is an inland sand dune — a wind-formed sandy ridge that, while geomorphologically unassuming, holds considerable geological interest. The dune formed from sands and gravels of an accumulation terrace dating to the Riss glaciation, with the dune-building process itself occurring around the transition from the Pleistocene to the Holocene. The area lies within a larger forest complex stretching between the villages of Zminný, Malolánské, and Veská, in the Pardubice Elbe lowlands (Polabí).

Legal protection was granted in 1982, following a significant botanical discovery. In July 1976, botanist F. Procházka came across a population of sand sedge (Carex pseudobrizoides) here during a field course in floristics — the first confirmed record of this species anywhere in what was then Czechoslovakia. That find immediately gave this modest patch of forest scientific importance far beyond its size.

Why is this site protected?

The primary reason for protection is the preservation of psammophilous vegetation — plant communities adapted to poor, sandy substrates. The centerpiece is the sand sedge itself, a critically endangered species for which this sandy dune represents one of only a handful of known localities in the country. Alongside it grow other threatened plants, including a spurrey species associated with Czech botanist Morison's work and sheep's fescue, a grass typical of dry, sandy habitats.

This particular combination of substrate, microclimate, and geological history allowed a flora to develop here that is otherwise absent from the fertile lowland forests typical of the surrounding region.

What should visitors know before going?

The dune sits alongside a forest path leading toward the nearby village of Veská, making it an easily reachable stop for anyone walking through the local woods. Given its small size and the fragility of the protected habitat, visits should stick to the marked path — straying off it risks damaging the delicate sand vegetation, which regenerates very slowly.

The site will appeal most to visitors with an interest in botany or geology, who will appreciate the rarity of this kind of microhabitat within the Elbe lowland landscape. To a casual passer-by, the dune might look like an unremarkable sandy rise in the forest — but it quietly shelters one of the rarest sedge species in the Czech Republic.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Přesyp u Malolánského located? About 200 meters northwest of the hamlet of Malolánské, in the municipality of Lány u Dašic, Pardubice district.

How large is the protected area? The nature monument covers 2.65 hectares.

Since when has the site been protected? The area has held legal protection since 1982.

What is the most valuable species found here? The sand sedge (Carex pseudobrizoides), a critically endangered species whose first known locality in Czechoslovakia was discovered here in 1976.

Can visitors walk through the area freely? Yes, a forest path running alongside the site leads to the village of Veská, though staying on marked trails is recommended to protect the fragile habitat.