Study area

The Meadow study area is located on a small plateau, approximately 3km to the north-west from Vác city centre. The site is framed by plots of either arable or neglected agricultural land. To the north-west of the meadow there are cherry orchard and raspberry field. To the east and north-east there is a shallow trench that carries away some of the water during heavy rainfall. To the south there is a small housing estate called Kisvác (Small Vác) – a peripheral neighbourhoods of Vác.

History

Historically the meadow has always being used as agricultural land. In the 19th century the adjacent area to the north-east and south-east has been used for clay extraction and was also housing a small brick production.

When the quarry was closed permanently in the mid 20th century it gave an opportunity for housing estate to establish. Until recently the entire area was heavily used for planting agricultural crops but for the past 10 years one by one small portions are being left unmanaged.

The last time this study area was subject to human intervention (whether seeded or cleared from overgrown vegetation) was in 2017. The current meadow habitat has been thriving since then.

Conditions

360 view (click on the hand tool for better pan)

The meadow study area is fully exposed. Winds are coming predominantly from the north and north-west. Apart from few electricity pylons there are no any tall trees or other structures in the near surroundings.

Access become increasingly more difficult after late spring when most of the tall grasses and perennials have achieved their ultimate height.

Soil structure is loamy, sightly acidic and well drained (European Soil Data Centre).

Ecology and management

The meadow is a dynamic system defined by fast growing species constantly competing with each other in a struggle for succession. There are dozens of different plant species and few of them including the Canadian goldenrod and Wild carrot are spreading in big and easily identifiable patches. Big variety of grass species include Bluejoint grass, Ryegrass, Meadow fescue etc. Traces of Common wheat can still be found at one end of the meadow.

Among the permanent residents are huge variety of insects including flies, bees, spiders, crickets and grasshoppers etc. but also field mice and rabbits. Occasional visitors are deer and fox.

The ecological value of this meadow and others in the surroundings is enormous. If left undamaged the habitat morphology would continue to transform. There is the possibility however for the land to be swallowed by a settlement expansion in the near future.