Velký hájek

Velký hájek is a small nature reserve just north of the town of Šlapanice, in the Brno-venkov district of South Moravia, Czech Republic. Covering only 2.57 hectares, the protected area sits on a ridge rising above the left bank of the Říčka river, right at the northern edge of Šlapanice's built-up area. The terrain ranges between 221 and 265 metres above sea level, and the upper part of the ridge offers views over the river valley and the surrounding farmland.

Why is this place protected?

Velký hájek was formally declared a nature monument by Regulation No. 6/2019 of the South Moravian Region, issued on 17 December 2018 and effective from 1 March 2019. The reason for its protection is the coexistence, within a small area, of several valuable habitat types: steppe grassland communities, scrubland, and oak-hornbeam forest growing on Culm-age conglomerate bedrock. This mosaic of habitats allows a range of rare and locally significant plant and animal species to survive here.

What kind of vegetation grows at Velký hájek?

The site is covered almost entirely by deciduous forest, dominated by oak and hornbeam, typical of the region's oak-hornbeam woodland type. The rocky Culm conglomerate substrate also supports pockets of steppe and scrub vegetation on the sunnier, shallow-soil sections of the ridge. The contrast between the shaded forest interior and the open, dry slopes is one of the site's defining features.

What animals can be found here?

Velký hájek is one of the last strongholds in this part of Moravia for the stag beetle (Lucanus cervus), the largest beetle found in Central Europe. The presence of this species, which depends heavily on old, decaying deciduous trees, points to a well-preserved stand of mature forest and a genuinely natural woodland character.

How does Velký hájek fit into the wider conservation network?

The reserve is not an isolated patch on the map. Together with three neighbouring protected areas, Horka, Návrší, and Andělka a Čertovka, it forms part of the Natura 2000 network as the Site of Community Importance named "Šlapanické slepence" (after the Czech word for the local conglomerate rock, "slepenec"). Together, these four sites protect a distinctive rocky landscape on the outskirts of Šlapanice, where the Culm conglomerate geology shapes both the terrain and the vegetation found on it.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Velký hájek located? North of Šlapanice, in the Brno-venkov district, above the left bank of the Říčka river, at an elevation of 221–265 metres above sea level.

How large is the protected area? The reserve covers just 2.57 hectares, a compact site that can be walked in under an hour.

Since when has Velký hájek been formally protected? It has held nature monument status since 1 March 2019, under a South Moravian Region regulation issued in December 2018.

Which species makes this site particularly valuable? The stag beetle, the largest beetle in Central Europe, which depends on old deciduous trees.

Is Velký hájek part of the Natura 2000 network? Yes, together with Horka, Návrší, and Andělka a Čertovka it forms the Natura 2000 site "Šlapanické slepence".