M1 extension: 7 protected plant species living alongside the track at 6 sites, relocated by a botanist

Since then, MKIF has already reported that preparations have begun, and we also wrote an article about the test piling here. At that time, they promised to provide further details soon, and now they have done so: this time, they have chosen a nature conservation topic in a Facebook post.

Special attention is paid to protected plants

Every project has some less spectacular but crucial steps, such as the relocation of protected plants during the M1 motorway widening, they say, and then stress:

following botanical surveys, they must relocate protected plants along the track under strict legal requirements.

These plants can be relocated to an area close to the original growing area, as determined by a specialist. Collection and transplanting work may only be carried out by a biologist (botanist) with the necessary professional references.

Then comes a list of the 6 sites along the route, 7 protected and 1 specially protected species:

• purple orchid (Orchis purpurea)
• spring chickweed (Adonis vernalis)
• Helleborus dumetorum (Helleborus dumetorum)
• two-leaved arctic flower (Platanthera bifolia)
• Borzas flax (Linum hirsutum)
• willow wreath (Spiranthes spiralis)
• Curly-leaved veronica (Pseudolysimachion spurium) - specially protected
• marsh warbler (Sonchus palustris)

Their removal will be carried out in several phases in autumn 2024 and the first half of 2025, followed by earthworks and the construction of the road structure. In addition to the widened highway, MKIF will also create new gullies, where in the longer term regeneration of habitats similar to the current ones is expected.

Interestingly, the process does not end with the transplanting: the nearly 5,000 plants that have been moved to their new home are followed up by a specialist to ensure their success.