So today I finally stopped at the butterfly steppe. It was just a quick visit, just to see if anything had changed significantly. The steppe looks beautiful, obviously the site is well cared for.
The place reminded me of the concept of a “new wilderness” – a place where nature and human activity create a fascinating but often overlooked habitat. Although this space seems to be returning to what it should be, it is in fact a dynamic combination of old and new.
This steppe is a former military training ground, a plot of land overgrown with scrubby trees that is transformed into a valuable habitat thanks to specific interventions. Interventions such as mowing, tree removal and even a periodically used motocross track simulate natural disturbances that support the diversity of vegetation and fauna.
This reminds me that human activity doesn’t always have to be detrimental – it can also promote biodiversity where natural succession couldn’t do it alone. This Butterfly Steppe is like new wildernesses but intentionally created (or saved) – it’s a place where people and nature coexist in a delicate balance. Over 50 species of butterflies, 40 species of birds, including those disappearing from the mainstream landscape, and a diverse range of plants such as orchids and steppe boxwood show how important it is to conserve these spaces.
“New wilderness” habitats remind us that even overlooked, seemingly forgotten places can be full of life and meaning. Look out for them!
The average temperature is still dropping these days, it has started to rain again and the rain is expected to last all week. Fortunately, there is no longer any danger of flooding.
Yesterday, a single moth flew in – Hypena rostralis, buttoned snout (observation n.480).
