Nadějkov

Basic info

Country:

http://www.nadejkov.cz/

Area:

Population:

Density:

Summary:

References:

https://osno.webnode.cz/
https://zachovalykraj.cz/
https://nadejkovsko.cz/
https://www.facebook.com/p/Okra%C5%A1lov%C3%A1k-100066741182997/?locale=bn_IN
https://taborsky.denik.cz/zpravy_region/v-nadejkove-finisuje-obnova-farske-zahrady-20121010.html
https://taborsky.denik.cz/zpravy_region/na-nadejkovsku-radi-spolek-padlych-holek20110622.html
https://www.vikendotevrenychzahrad.cz/farska-zahrada-nadejkov
https://www.propamatky.info/cs/zpravodajstvi/jihocesky-kraj/x/z-farske-zahrady-v-nadejkove-vzniklo-komunitni-centrum/1287 738

Keywords

Gallery

Issues Addressed

The central square in Nadějkov lacks a coherent concept and today serves mainly as a parking lot and a thoroughfare for a second class road. Until 2011, it lacked a place for living, meeting and holding community events.

In the surrounding landscape of the Jistebnicka vrchovina Nature Park, many traditional pedestrian links were gradually disappearing, overgrown with vegetation or broken up by farming activities. Small religious monuments have not been mapped, and some of them have not been maintained.

Approaches and Solutions

In 2011-2012, the parish garden at the Holy Trinity Church in the centre of the village underwent extensive revitalisation. The project was initiated by the Okrašlovací spolek pro Nadějkov a okolí, z.s. (Beautification Association for Nadějkov and its Surroundings), with the support of the then village administration and the local Roman Catholic parish, which owns the land. Funding was provided by the Nadace Via (Via Foundation), and other donors gradually joined in. The project had a clear vision from the beginning, focused on aesthetics, functionality, sustainability and harmonious integration into the rural environment. A carefully selected landscape studio was brought in to design the garden, and an experienced artist was brought in to create original furnishings. Local residents were actively involved in the planning through public meetings, and they as well as many “outsiders” also helped in the subsequent implementation.

Today, the place called “Farská” (“Parish”) is a peaceful place for children and adults alike, as well as a venue for regular community meetings, which the municipality (financially) supports. A summer cinema is screened there, and the place is actively used by the local scout troop, which has a clubhouse in the rectory and who are also involved in the maintenance of the garden.

Local non-profits, in cooperation with enlightened farmers, have also long been restoring paths in the landscape, planting trees, building ponds and mapping small religious monuments. They are creating new resting and viewing places in the landscape, with benches to honour notable citizens. Fruit trees are selected from native local varieties, thus supporting the preservation of the local gene pool.

The Zachovalý kraj, z.s. (Preserved Region) association holds regular “tearoom” meetings with experts, artists and travellers, often on the theme of landscape, at the former Nadějkov cinema. The association is also behind the creation of an online database of historical monuments and restored trails (https://nadejkovsko.cz/). Olga Černá adds: “In Nadějkov there was much to build on in terms of community life and landscape care. Since the 19th century, the village has been home to a number of associations, enlightened teachers, parish priests and farmers.”

Actors and Stakeholders

Nadějkov traditionally boasts an active community and several enlightened farmers (especially organic farmer Jiří Benda and his family) who have been tending the landscape for generations. Today, the restoration of the local landscape is mainly coordinated by the non-profit associations Zachovalý kraj, z.s (Preserved Region) and the Okrašlovací spolek pro Nadějkov a okolí, z.s. (Beautification Association for Nadějkov and its Surroundings).

The former association was founded in protest against a planned radioactive waste repository, and its main faces are Olga and Zdeněk Černí. The second was founded by Jana Průšová and Olga Dušková, and its biggest project so far has been the restoration of the Parish Garden, which was realised with the great support of the then parish priest Miroslav Zdík Jordánek, whose motto “Courage will send us on our way, humility will lead us to the goal” accompanied the whole project. In addition to the then mayor Zdeněk Černý, a number of volunteers, including local scouts, firemen, craftsmen and other residents, took part in the implementation. Landscape architect Eva Sušková from the Atelier Gaia (Gaia studio) prepared the garden design, and the furnishings were designed by sculptor and artist Lukáš Gavlovský.

Challenges and Opportunities

Financial support from the Nadace Via (Via Foundation) was not enough to carry the Parish Garden project through, so it was necessary to approach other donors. A big challenge was to involve local residents who were initially sceptical about the project. The organisation of the construction work was also challenging.

The current problem is maintaining the continuity of the projects that have been interrupted by a change in the leadership of the municipality, which has different priorities. There is a lack of support for the conceptual design of the central square of which the Parish Garden is a part. In 2012, the municipality received a grant from the Nadace Partnerství (Partnership Foundation) for this project, followed by the development of an architectural design, which was discussed with local citizens at three public meetings. Work on the project has begun but has yet to be completed.

Outcomes and Lessons Learnt

The greatest success is the creation of a quality public space that was lacking in the village as well as the successful continuation of a tradition of local civic engagement. Active people are regularly involved in the restoration and development of the landscape at the initiative of the local non-profits. Their perseverance and emphasis on quality and the long-term sustainability of the projects they implement is exceptional. They receive support from various entities Nadace Via (Via Foundation), Nadace Partnerství (Partnership Foundation), Jihočeský kraj (South Bohemia Region)) and private donors.

The Parish Garden has promoted community life, harmoniously blending into the centre of the small village and attracting the attention of the wider public thanks to its well thought-out landscape concept and the quality of its design. As Jana Průšová says: “The Parish Garden is now taken for granted by locals and visitors alike. A generation is growing up that no longer remembers a place without ‘Farská’ (‘Parish’). And that’s beautiful.”

The restored paths attract locals and visitors to the countryside, fostering their connection to the landscape. In addition, the online catalogue of small monuments offers another layer of information.

Selected major projects and awards

• Implementation of the Nature Trail (2001)
• Implementation of the Family Trail (2006)
• Planting of avenues and tree plantations along the roads to the settlements of Hubov, Kaliště and Hronova Vesec (2003 – 2014)
• Revitalisation of the Parish Garden at the Holy Trinity Church in the centre of the village (2011-2012)
• Rehabilitation of the “Draha” and “K ajchlově pasece” paths, the “Stará Kališťská” path and the path “Na Čambulu” including planting of accompanying greenery with a predominance of fruit trees (2011 – 2014)
• Five walks with local monuments and, with the Nadějkov parish priest Pavel Němec, to small monuments of the Nadějkov region, during which the monuments were documented and recorded on maps (2019-2020).
• Restoration of the path from the well in Šichova Vesec (2022)
• Improvement of the path in Sedliště, including planting of deciduous trees and shrubs (2023)
• Successful restoration of the information boards of the local nature trail (2024-2025)
• St. Wenceslas Trail along restored and lesser-known paths, in cooperation with the non-profit association Naplaveno, z.s. (2024)