The Berka Meadow, Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Near the lower end of Nová Ves, in Podmáslí (Buttermilk) Valley there is a protected meadow, the Berka Meadow. Just before the first bus stop in the village (“Dolní Nová Ves”) (from Jablonec nad Nisou) turn left and go along a single-track road for about 250m. In the early 17th century when the village saw considerable population growth, the meadow was known as a marshy area bordered in the South by the Nová Ves Stream and in the North by the partially forested Kynast hillside. The appearance of the meadow was altered in the early 18th century with the building of a mill and associated 500m mill race, still partially visible today, which cut through the centre of the area. To the north-west of the meadow there is a 250-year-old timber cottage – No. 38. The meadow got its name from the original owners of the house. The meadow is remarkable mainly for its water – often rising above ground level. Marshy areas are home to sphagnum moss, taller plants mainly include the common bogbean, the broad-leaved marsh orchid and the small lousewort. Spring sees lesser celandine, large bitter-cress, common cotton grass growing along the stream, and, in early summer, marsh violets lost in the sphagnum moss along with thread rush. A great many other species of plant can be seen in the meadow.