Louky u Budenína, Protected grassland area in Votice, Czech Republic

Louky u Budenína is a 28.08-hectare protected meadow area near the villages of Budenín and Otradovice, part of Votice in the Benešov district. It protects four grassland habitat types: species-rich mat-grass pastures on siliceous soils, purple moor-grass meadows on calcareous or peaty soils, tall-herb fringe communities, and extensively mown lowland hay meadows. The site lies within the Džbány-Žebrák natural park.

Louky u Budenína was declared a nature monument on 14 May 2018, covering 28.0773 hectares, with a 25.5652-hectare buffer zone. The meadows had already been protected since 2009, and again from 2013, as part of the Natura 2000 site CZ0210058. The site lies within the Džbány-Žebrák natural park.

The meadows lie in the Džbány-Žebrák natural park and have been part of the Natura 2000 network since 2009, with the site listed under code CZ0210058. The protection covers four grassland habitat types, among them species-rich mat-grass pastures and purple moor-grass meadows on calcareous or peaty soils.

The site requires regular maintenance including mowing and removal of invasive plants to keep the grasslands healthy. Visitors should stick to marked paths to avoid damaging the sensitive plants and habitats.

Restoration work uses seed mixtures gathered from local plants to preserve the natural genetic diversity found in the Votice region. These seeds come from plants that naturally grow in this area and are best adapted to local conditions.