U Bílých hlin

U Bílých hlin is a small nature reserve in Moravia, tucked between the villages of Krčmaň and Grygov in the Olomouc district, roughly a kilometre from Krčmaň itself. Covering less than two thousand square metres, it is one of the region's most valuable remnants of steppe grassland on the Hornomoravský úval lowland, preserving a slice of the original, warmth-loving vegetation that once covered much of the surrounding hills.

Why is this site protected?

The reserve sits on a gentle, south-east-facing slope underlain by Devonian limestone. A thin layer of rendzina soil drains quickly, allowing dry, grassy steppe vegetation to survive here long after it disappeared from most of the surrounding farmland. It is precisely this combination — limestone bedrock and fast-draining, moisture-poor soil — that has kept the site under formal protection for decades; it was first designated a protected area back in the 1950s.

What plants grow here?

The reserve is best known for the large pasque flower (Pulsatilla grandis), a species so significant that the whole site was also designated a Natura 2000 site of European importance for its conservation. Alongside it grow Carthusian pink (Dianthus carthusianorum), yellow flax (Linum flavum), and several orchid species, including the critically endangered three-toothed orchid. Protecting this orchid's population is one of the site's main conservation priorities, since the remaining population is small and fragile enough to need continuous monitoring.

What else lives in the reserve?

The dry grassland and its abundant wildflowers attract a rich insect life, butterflies above all. A 2021 survey recorded around 150 butterfly and moth species within the reserve, including the chalkhill blue (Polyommatus coridon), the berger's clouded yellow (Colias alfacariensis), and the scarce swallowtail (Iphiclides podalirius). Finding such a high number of species packed into such a small area underlines just how valuable this patch of steppe grassland is.

How to get there and what to know before visiting

The reserve lies off the beaten track, surrounded by open farmland between Krčmaň and Grygov, a short drive south-east of Olomouc. Because of its tiny size, the site is highly sensitive to nutrient enrichment and the spread of weedy, ruderal plants, so visitors are asked to stick to marked paths and avoid picking any plants — especially the protected orchids and pasque flowers.

Frequently asked questions

What is U Bílých hlin? It is a small Moravian nature reserve protecting a patch of limestone steppe grassland along with its rare plants and butterflies.

Which species are the most valuable here? The large pasque flower and the three-toothed orchid, both subject to dedicated conservation programmes due to their rarity.

When is the best time to visit? Spring, when the pasque flowers bloom, and late spring through summer, when the grassland's butterflies and other flowering plants are at their peak.

Are there visitor facilities on site? No — this is a small protected natural area without tourist infrastructure; a visit means walking the surrounding paths while respecting the site's conservation rules.