V Polích

V Polích is a small nature reserve located roughly half a kilometer south of the village of Zábrdí, in the Prachatice District of the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. The protected area covers part of a southwest-facing slope descending toward the left bank of the Blanice River valley. Established in 1992, the reserve spans just under two hectares, making it one of the smaller yet botanically valuable protected sites in the Předšumaví region — the foothill landscape lying just north of the Šumava mountains.

Why was this site protected?

The reserve was created chiefly to safeguard a rich population of the green-winged orchid (Anacamptis morio, formerly known as Orchis morio), called "vstavač kukačka" in Czech. The V Polích site represents a well-preserved example of a traditional Předšumaví meadow — a semi-natural, extensively managed grassland with a diverse wildflower flora that has disappeared from much of the surrounding countryside due to intensive agriculture. The slope's southwest orientation favors warmth-loving plant species, and its position above the Blanice valley creates a microclimate that supports a species-rich meadow sward.

What can visitors see in the reserve?

The green-winged orchid is the defining species of V Polích — a compact but striking member of the orchid family that blooms in spring with purple-pink flower spikes. Its population here is monitored regularly, and the data confirm that careful meadow management, including mowing at the right times of year, produces measurable results. In 2021, more than 400 individual orchids bloomed within the reserve, a clear sign of a healthy population and effective conservation practices.

Beyond the green-winged orchid, the meadow supports other plant species typical of semi-natural Předšumaví grassland communities, though protecting the Anacamptis morio population remains the reserve's central purpose.

How is the reserve managed?

Preserving the natural value of V Polích depends on active, ongoing management. Meadow reserves of this kind cannot survive without regular human intervention: left unmown, they quickly become overgrown with shrubs and tall, competitive vegetation that crowds out light-demanding species such as orchids. For this reason, the site is mown regularly at appropriate times, which keeps the meadow open and supports the continued growth of its protected plant population.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the V Polích reserve located? About half a kilometer south of the village of Zábrdí in the Prachatice District, on a slope descending toward the left bank of the Blanice River valley.

When was this protected area established? The V Polích nature reserve was declared in 1992.

Which species is specifically protected here? The green-winged orchid (Anacamptis morio) — more than 400 blooming specimens were recorded in the reserve in 2021.

How large is the reserve? It covers an area of just under two hectares.

What makes this site ecologically notable? It is a well-preserved example of a traditional Předšumaví meadow, a semi-natural grassland habitat typical of the foothill region north of the Šumava mountains in southern Bohemia.