Site Importance
The Site of Community Importance, Turecký vrch, lies on the southeast slopes of Turecký vrch, between Nové Mesto nad Váhom and Trenčianske Bohuslavice. The area is designated and protected to ensure the favorable condition of dry grassland habitats of Community interest, covering a total area of 32.03 hectares. Pastures with semi-natural dry grasslands and scrubland facies on calcareous substrates and Sub-Pannonic steppic grasslands hold particular importance in the area. Rare plants found here include white dittany (Dictamnus albus), flax (Linum hirsutum), bee orchid (Ophrys apifera), military orchid (Orchis militaris), lady orchid (O. purpurea), and pale orchid (O. pallens). The mosaic of grasslands and shrubs hosts several butterfly species, including the protected eastern eggar (Eriogaster catax) and the Jersey Tiger (Callimorpha quadripunctaria). Additionally, in Turecký vrch are also present habitats of Pannonian woods with downy oaks, lime–maple forests of slopes, screes and ravines. Mature or decaying trees and deadwood in pastures and open forests are habitats for species such as the stag beetle (Lucanus cervus). The Site of Community Importance also overlaps with the natural reserve Turecký vrch. Historically, this area was used for grazing. After 1950, grazing was abandoned, and in the following decades, the area began to be overgrown with shrubs and invasive species. Railway transport historically had a positive impact on the biodiversity of pastures when sparks from locomotives or railway workers directly burned surrounding vegetation before the railway tunnel was built.
