Project to support the cherry tree Prague Uhříněvěs – Netluky – 2022-23

How did Čmeláci PLUS get involved in the project?

 In Prague's Uhříněves - next to the Podleský Pond in Netuklá, there is a beautiful old cherry tree and a wonderful beetle - the cherry beetle (Anthaxia candens) - thrives in it.

It is a real beauty, but unfortunately it is very rare in our country, so it is becoming increasingly rare to meet it. It needs old cherry wood for its life, in which its larvae develop, and there are fewer and fewer such places.

There are many reasons, but unsurprisingly, many are caused by humans.

The current method of intensive fruit growing is more interested in the young, low trunks of modern fruit trees. As soon as they stop producing a sufficient harvest, they are immediately replaced with new ones. 

Farmers are not interested in old trees and old varieties. Old trees produce little and need more care. In addition, old varieties of fruit trees form high crowns and it is more difficult to harvest the fruit there. Therefore, today's production orchards are mostly just tree stumps from which fruit is harvested.. 

Fruit growers are primarily interested in profit in order to succeed in the competition - yes, they have a hard time, but is nature to blame for all this? That is why they are not even interested in the important effect of large crowns of fruit trees, which create partial shade and prevent the soil beneath them from drying out, etc. In addition, honey plants grow in partial shade, which are loved by the sweet tongues of insects - not only bumblebees.

Fortunately, there are still orchards with old trees and people who take care of them. There are few of them, but meeting them is always like a balm for the soul.

One such place is a beautiful old cherry tree. The kind-hearted Mrs. Jana, as well as the owner of the land, are dedicated to its preservation. We are amazed by their courage and will with which they have embarked on this, because there is and will be a lot of work to be done. 

In Netlucká třešňovka, the striped bumblebee, a species that is on the verge of extinction in our country, has been present for a long time, but its condition has deteriorated significantly in the last 10 years, the last recorded occurrence was about 4-5 years ago, but another rare species, the humen bumblebee (Bombus ruderatus), still occurs here. It is therefore not excluded that both species still survive here, but their population is on the verge of extinction. By sowing suitable plants, we would like to help these local populations develop again.

That's why we met in Třešňovka on Saturday, November 4, 2023 , to discuss possibilities for cooperation. Not only so that the cherry krait can thrive here, but also so that rare species of bumblebees that used to occur there can return to this place.

The meeting was very pleasant, there is a lot of room for cooperation. If everything works out, we will start this year and if it works out even better... but let's not get ahead of ourselves, everything is just at the beginning.

We would be happy to involve your skilled and hardworking hands in the work of sowing melliferous plants that we are planning on the land. As soon as the green light comes on, we will get started - Čmeláci Plus, Jakub Černý and you too, if you are not afraid of work.

In the meantime, take a look at the photos from this beautiful place and mark your calendar for the end of November. You can see for yourself that it's worth a little sweat.