Biobelt management on Střítežský hill

Our experience

The Bumblebee PLUS Association unites a large community of bumblebee breeders, dedicated to the protection
of bumblebees, the establishment or revitalization of biotopes, the popularization of insects and increasing
public awareness.
We cooperate with Czech and foreign experts (e.g. Bumblebee Conservation Trust)

Members of the association are also involved in monitoring and breeding less abundant and rare bumblebee species,
which is a source of much information about these species.

In the vicinity of Polička, this project is one of several measures that
we are implementing in cooperation with ČSOP Polička: sowing nectar-bearing plants along the cycle path, grassing approximately 7 ha of the original field with a species-
diverse grass-herb mixture with a large proportion of legumes.

Intention

As part of the project, we will introduce phased mowing. Twice a year, two-thirds of the area will be mowed,
longitudinal strips of 7,000 m², the rest of the area will be left until the next mowing.
We will leave a different strip each time we mow.

One third of the area will be mowed only during the first mowing, the second third during both mowings, and
the last part only during the second mowing. The order of the strips will change over the years.

This type of care will ensure that the nutrient plants will gradually repair themselves and provide
sufficient food sources throughout the growing season.

Mowing with a bar mower, clearing, transportation and storage of organic matter will be provided by a local private
farmer, with whom we occasionally cooperate. He has all the necessary equipment, but
also an understanding of the meaning of the matter and a desire to carry out this activity responsibly.

Further care carried out by members of the association will consist of reducing smaller areas of unwanted
plants (e.g., marigolds or nettles) with a scythe or brush cutter, local disturbances to
maintain early successional flowering weeds, and possible sowing of other suitable plants.

Mowing dates and other interventions will always be determined by the members of the association with regard to the state of vegetation
on the site, the state of surrounding meadows, but also, for example, according to precipitation conditions during
the season.

Project objectives

• Implementing management that will ensure sufficient food supply throughout the growing
  season in the biobelt, making it a functional support area for rare bumblebee species.
  The belt will also allow these species better access through the agricultural landscape.
• A model biobelt concept that, thanks to the use of mostly readily available legume
  plants and simple management, is easily replicable in other locations, for example in
  other areas where target bumblebee species occur.
• For these species, nectar-rich areas sown with, for example, massively supported bumblebees are
  not very attractive, and the hosts from the genus Bombus are mostly abundant, generalist species that
  do not need much support, or the publicly idealized domesticated honey bee.
• With the measures in place, we will be able to continue to collect knowledge about endangered
  bumblebee species in the area, which can further help protect these species.