Restoring meadows at the farm “DRUBAZAS”

The farm ‘Drubazas’ is situated in the ancient Abava river valley, just before Sabile, featuring one of Kurzeme’s most outstanding and picturesque terraced slopes. Since the late 1990s, it has been developed as a destination for tourism and nature exploration, while also cultivating grapes and producing wine.

‘Drubazas’ has been managed by the family of Dzērves and owner Ģirts Dzērve for many years. The farm is home to a variety of habitats, including unique meadows that have remained intact since the manor era.

In order to develop the farm as a natural farm, Ģirts Dzērve is managing and restoring the natural meadows on the farm.

This project builds upon and extends the work that has been ongoing for many years.

The project aims to enhance the protection status of EU-important habitats, including 6210 Semi-natural dry grasslands and scrubland facies on calcareous substrates, 5130 Juniperus communis formations on heaths or calcareous grasslands, and 7230 Alkaline fens over a 4-hectare area. To achieve this, it is necessary to mill mounds, old ruts, and tree stumps. This project not only facilitates the resumption of regular, habitat-appropriate management practices in the long term but also lays the groundwork for maintaining favourable protection conditions for these grasslands and alkaline fens.