Another year of herding and grazing has come to an end!

During the last few years the awareness of the need for protecting the natural values typical of the Kraków-Częstochowa Upland, including the restoration and conservation of the biodiversity and distinctive landscape features, has grown.

The changes in the agriculture which took place recently, namely resigning from farming and husbandry, and the decrease in the demand for firewood, have contributed to the overgrowing of the areas which were once used for the purpose of farming. This is why it was necessary to undertake a series of well-coordinated actions aimed at maintaining the desired state of the natural values of Jura, which was once called "a land of white rocks."

Grazing is one of the means of active protection. It is implemented in order to maintain the diversity of the xerothermic and rock grasslands and to prevent the plant succession. Apart from the important role they play in the nature conservation, the animals also serve as a tourist attraction of the Kraków-Częstochowa Upland.

Another stage of sheep and goat grazing ended at the turn of September and October 2014. The grazing action was implemented in all four Natura 2000 refugia:

-the Olsztyn-Mirów refugium (Skałki Małe and Skałki Duże, the Cegielnia hill, Ostra Górka, the Statkowa mountain, the Towarne mountains, the Zamkowe hill, Lipówki, Białko),

-the Złoty Potok refugium (hills and rises in Suliszowice, Gorzków, Ludwinów, Trzebiniów – the Kazubiec hill, and in Buków),

-the Kroczyce refugium (areas in Łutowiec, Piaseczno, Rzędkowice, Morsko and a rise near Niegowa),

-the Środkowa Jura refugium (Ryczów – Łysa Pałka, Grochowiec, Cisownik, at the foot of he Straszykowe rocks and near the cementery; the Wodąca valley – the Kykciowa rock, the Sikorowa rock and Wypaleniec; Niegowonice – near the Kromołowiec hill).

All the areas were grazed with the animals of our contractors (external assistance). The herds included our sheep bought due to the project. Another stage of the grazing will take place in 2015 and will start in May.

The hill of the Kykciowa rock near Strzegów: a quick siesta provides an opportunity to relax on a sunny day

Olsztyn-Mirów refugium

Grazing in the Złoty Potok refugium

Grazing in the Złoty Potok refugium

Herding infrastructure

Sheep – an animal capable of eating the undesirable species while avoiding the species which are valuable for a habitat. Moreover, their hooves uncover the soil allowing the stenothermic plants to sprout

Ecological mowers in action!

LIFE+ sheep