Laelatu wooded meadow

Laelatu wooded meadow is a nature reserve in Lääneranna Rural Municipality that combines open grassland with scattered trees and shrubs. The structure creates distinct plant layers and provides habitat for numerous species adapted to this semi-open environment.

The meadow was shaped thousands of years ago through traditional management practices including selective cutting and grazing that created a balanced ecosystem. These methods of working the land have continued to define and maintain its character over generations.

Estonian communities maintain connections to the meadow through seasonal activities including hay collection, wood gathering, and berry picking.

This location offers good conditions for hiking and observing wildlife, particularly from spring through summer when vegetation is lush and animals are most active. Visitors should prepare for wet ground common to meadows and forests in this region.

A biological station here documents the presence of roughly 40 percent of all Estonian plant species within this relatively small area. This concentration of native plant diversity makes it a location of significant scientific value.