Meadows & dry grasslands

Colourful meadows

  • 63 ha meadows
  • Approx. 4%

Pretty orchids such as the lesser orchid, prominent carnation plants such as the Carthusian carnation, as well as meadow sage, daisies, bell flowers and many more dot the approximately 63 hectares of meadows in the Thayatal National Park. Found mostly in narrow strips next to the Thaya or Fugnitz, they have more nutrients as rich meadows or somewhat fewer as lean meadows, and enjoy abundant water as wet meadows or use it more sparingly as dry meadows. In any case, they are an irreplaceable habitat for an abundance of insects. Many of the 44 species of grasshopper and more than 950 species of butterfly are at home here.

Because the meadows were once created by humans clearing the forest to let goats and sheep graze, humans must also take care of the continuity of the meadows. In fact, biodiversity is only maintained if mowing is done regularly. Without mowing, individual plants that are more competitive take over and the meadow becomes more monotonous and eventually starts to become overgrown. Over time, trees grow again instead of colourful flowers. This does not happen in the Thayatal. Depending on the type of meadow, insect-friendly cutter-bar mowers are used once or twice a year, starting in mid-June at the earliest.

Dry grasslands

  • 1% dry grassland and rock
  • Enchanting dry grasslands

That something barren should be especially rich in species seems like a paradox. However, this description really does apply to dry grasslands. On steep slopes and rocky plateaus where little water can be stored and the rest runs off quickly, the soil layer is thin and the sun often burns down mercilessly, trees do not stand much chance. On the other hand, these are ideal conditions for colourful irises, intensely coloured meadow pasque flowers or fragile spring draba. Dry grassland dwellers have minimalist living requirements, but that is precisely why they thrive in such diversity. Instead of a few that manage to absorb an abundance of nutrients, such as the dandelion in the rich pastures, many modest specialists coexist here. Two special dry grassland rarities are the high pearl grass and the soft-haired feather grass. These do not occur anywhere in Austria except in the Thayatal National Park.

There are also some secondary dry grasslands in addition to these original, primary dry grasslands that maintain themselves entirely on their own. They were once created by grazing sheep and goats. As with the meadows, it is also important to actively maintain the areas here so that they do not become overgrown with forest again.
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