Thanks to LIFE WILL, Němčice is thriving

Since the beginning of the LIFE WILL – Water in the Landscape and Soil project, we have been working with the village of Němčice in the Kolín region to restore the health of the landscape. We can happily report, that three years later, thanks to the enthusiasm of the mayor, things are still moving, and the village is thriving. On our most recent trip, we lent a hand, and with our help (and this time also our own hands), we planted 136 trees and 309 shrubs and restored two field paths.

How did it all start?

When we first arrived in Němčice, we found landscape preservation work already underway. Volunteer Dan Pánek, was concerned about the worsening drought, and decided to map the landscape around Němčice and Veltruby. Coincidentally, Němčice was then preparing to renovate roads and plant trees, but they did not know exactly where, so Dan’s findings were timely. Joining the LIFE WILL project— which offered experts and European funding from the LIFE Programme—was then a logical next step.

Němčice became one of three pilot locations in the project. Based on cooperation with the local municipality, our colleagues developed an innovative participatory methodology to solve issues regarding the condition of the landscape. In practice, the interests and preferences of local citizens and farmers take primacy in our considerations. First, they were mapped in sociologically through interviews (April-June 2023), then they fine-tuned during expert-led workshops.

Since our work in Němčice is implemented on municipal land, it was possible to start quickly after priorities were set. First, we needed to survey the selected land, prepare for sowing a clover-grass mixture (carried out by a local farmer), and prepare a planting plan. Everything was coordinated with the needs of local farmers so that the landscape would remain accessible to them.

Time to roll up our sleeves!

Once everything was ready and the seedlings had been bought, it was finally time to start planting! Under the guidance of experts from Sázíme stromy (We Plant Trees), five planting sessions took place over two years in two locations around Němčice. This was done with volunteers from the community. Their interest and involvement continue unabated today. Notably, locals were part of the first two plantings on municipal land along a restored road in the middle of a land block.

More plantings await us in the biocentre along the road to Eleonorov. New oaks and maples have already been planted, as well as apple, pear, cherry, and sour cherry trees and shrubs. In the future, these avenues and planted areas will serve as windbreaks and shelters for animals; they will also shade and beautify the restored field paths.

In mid-November, our team also planted trees. And we worked hard! Driven by a sincere passion for a good cause, we planted 45 fruit trees—pear, cherry, sour cherry, and plum trees. In the future, these will provide fruit for a whole range of animal species.

What was planted and when?

• November 18, 2023—17 oak trees and 40 fruit trees (apple, pear, cherry, and sour cherry) were planted by local volunteers.
• April 26, 2024—135 shrubs were planted in a line of trees along the road.
• October 17, 2024—we conducted post-planting care as part of Scout patronage along the road.
• April 22, 2025 —we conducted post-planting care as part of Scout patronage along the road.
• April 2, 2025— the first plantings in the biocentre took place: we planted 23 lime and maple trees and 174 shrubs
• November 20, 2025—the second planting in the biocentre: our team planted 45 fruit trees
• November 21, 2025—28 bird cherries were planted in the biocentre

The local residents and community are central to our work in Němčice, and we must not forget the exemplary work they provide. It is they who take excellent care of the trees and shrubs with the help of experts from Sázíme stromy.

What's next? Ponds, perhaps!

Planting and sowing greenery is not the only thing we have prepared for Němčice. Soon, we will start building ponds and widening the local stream. The pond project was prepared by Vít Rous from Grania. We have already received the necessary environmental permit and are waiting for the building permit.

Because we have a stream that will flow out of the future ponds and loosened upon land that does not belong to the municipality, it was necessary to negotiate with the landowners. In such cases, land is exchanged with the municipality, and some owners have given their consent without compensation.

Evidently, things are going well in Němčice. Where there's a will, there's a way. In this case, however, the large amount of municipal land also helped. We hope that other municipalities will be inspired by the enlightened approach of Němčice, especially those threatened by drought, erosion, and flash floods.

LIFE WILL – Water in the Landscape and Soil addresses the issue of drought and the impacts of climate change on the landscape. It is co-financed by the LIFE Programme—a European Union financial instrument supporting projects that increase the biological diversity of the landscape or its resilience to climate change—and the Czech Ministry of the Environment. Its goal is to increase the resilience of the population and agricultural landscape to climate change through the introduction of nature-based adaptation measures at the local level. We are achieving this goal by increasing the involvement of local actors and the public and their ability to implement measures for water retention in soil and landscape. We cooperate with Beleco, Sdružení místních samospráv ČR (the Association of Local Authorities of the Czech Republic) and Daphne - Inštitút aplikovanej ekológie (Daphne - Institute of Applied Ecology).