We have 140 hectares of meadows along the Narew River, between the villages of Ancuty and Puchły. A decade ago, this area was dominated by reeds – the area was too waterlogged for tractors causing farmers to abandon these meadows in the 1990s. Modern equipment, such as tractors, would sink in the mud, making it impossible to harvest crops here. Our initial efforts involved mowing the reeds and clearing selected shrubs, employing specialized machinery. We heavily relied on two tractors equipped with double wheels, enabling them to assist each other when stuck in the mud. Nonetheless, even mowing these plots once a year proved to be a significant challenge for both us and the machinery. Since 2015, we began fencing off the first plots and grazing Polish Konik horses and Red cows here. We restored the meadows and initiated grazing as part of the LIFEGALLINAGO project. Every year, in May, we have to check several kilometers of fences – replace broken insulators, torn wires, broken pegs, and run a solar power system. Although the animals eagerly await their release, the meadows are still far too wet – to put it briefly, you might end up soaking your wellingtons. We check the fences systematically as the water in the river subsides, revealing new sandbanks. We let the animals in after checking for bird nests in the meadows. Working in the field is always a pleasure, as the meadows showcase their natural beauty. On higher ground, vibrant fields of buttercups come into bloom. We find great delight in observing the increasing number of orchids each year, most likely including heath spotted-orchids and early marsh-orchids. We also had an opportunity to admire mayflies and their courtship dances, as well as dragonflies. Thanks to the grazing animals, we have fostered a diverse ecosystem of invertebrates, reminiscent of the countryside's natural balance.
Wesja Polska