In mid-June we hosted colleagues from two Belgian LIFE project teams, namely of LIFE HARWIN and LIFE CONNEXIONS. Both projects focus on habitat restoration, using methods such as sowing native seed material and raising seedlings of rare and endangered species. We dedicated the first day to alpine meadows, where we collect seeds for the seed bank. We visited Mangrtsko sedlo, paying much attention also to the alpine birds as well, as our visitors were enthusiastic naturalists, extremely knowledgeable not only in botany, but also birds and insects. Then, we showed them interesting meadows on gravel substrates in Belca, where characteristic species of dry grasslands are joined by typical plants of alkaline fens and Molinia stands.

The second day, we visited the seed bank in Jablje, where we explained the process of collecting, cleaning and storing the seeds. Then, we visited the info centre at Dolenje Jezero, as well as project plots at Dolenjska blata at Lake Cerknica. Different methods of grassland restoration were presented – sowing seed mixtures and seeds of individual species, spreading green hay and planting seedlings. To top it all off, we also visited the recipient meadow at Planinsko polje, where we were greeted by two typical grassland birds, the whinchat Saxicola rubetra and the corncrake Crex crex. The Belgian delegation concluded it is definitely worth returning to Slovenia in the future.