Territory
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Map
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The moorland
The moorland is a natural environment made up mainly (over 50%) of vegetation of small shrubs including heather.
There are 3 different species on the perimeter of the LIFE Avaloirs Project, which colour the moorland from pink to purple during summer.-
Common Heather
Common Heather is the heather most represented on the perimeter of LIFE Avaloirs. It is also called "false heather". Its appearance is reminiscent of classic heather but its leaves are much smaller (by leaf base) and are nested in each other.
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Cross-Leaved Heather
Cross-Leaved Heather has pale pink flowers, all gathered in a cluster at the top of the plant. Its leaves are always inserted in a crown, by four, a characteristic that gave it its name!
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Bell Heather
The Bell Heather, whose flowers are more purple, unlike the Cross-Leaved Heather. When not in flower, you have to look at its leaves so as not to be mistaken in its identification – it is inserted by 3 and not by 4 like its cousin.
The threats
The moorland is an open habitat, that is to say that its horizon is clear, with its own biodiversity which has earned it being listed in the “Special Areas of Conservation” in Europe (Habitats Directive 1992).
Within the scope of the LIFE Avaloirs Project, the moorland has two main threats.-
Afforestation
In just under 200 years, around 850 hectares of moorland has been lost whilst the forest has grown by 400 hectares! To halt this phenomenon, it is important to limit the colonisation of trees on the current moorland by reinstating old management practices.
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The Eagle Fern
This very invasive species gradually suffocates the moor by monopolising all access to light. Little by little, the heather disappears… as well as the animal species which depend on it.
What to do to protect the moors?
The LIFE Avaloirs Project aims to restore large expanses of moors and allow the Hen Harrier to regain a prominent place on the territory.
To support this project:
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1 To promote awareness
talk about the project, the environment and the actions taken to protect it with those around you.
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2 Take part
in the proposed project workshops and activities to restore areas of moorland.
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3 Respect
the construction sites and work areas by staying on marked trails.
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4 Always take
your litter home after your visit and limit all activities that could start a fire.
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Peatland
Peatland is an environment where soil is constantly saturated with stagnant water. Without oxygen, bacteria and fungi cannot degrade organic matter (dead leaves, plant or animal matter) and consequently accumulates, forming what is called "peat".
Peatland play an important role for the climate; they store 20 times more carbon than forests!
This environment with very specific conditions is the home to unusual species, which have adapted to the harshness of peat bogs.
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Sundews (Drosera)
The most famous on the peatland: a carnivorous plant. This small plant with rounded leaves has "stalks" on which there are small glands. These glands secrete a sticky juice, which attracts and traps insects in which the plant finds all the necessary nutrients that are totally absent from its peatland environment. It is this juice that gives the impression that Drosera is always covered with morning dew (hence its name, coming from the Greek droseros meaning "covered with dew").
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Bog Asphodel (Narthecium ossifragum)
This pretty plant with yellow flowers is a cousin of the irises in our gardens. It is found in the peatland present on the LIFE Avaloirs Project territory. Protected in the Pays de la Loire, Bog Asphodel, according to an Old Wives’ Tale, would cause animals grazing in pastures where it grows to develop brittle bones. This belief is the origin of its nickname "bonebreaker".
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Common Cottongrass (Eriophorum angustifolium)
The Common Cottongrass, with its narrow leaves is easily recognised by the particular appearance of its fruits which form hanging pompoms reminiscent of cotton. This mountain plant is extremely rare in the moorland. This has earned it a ranking on the Pays de la Loire regional list as "almost threatened" with extinction. Its presence is closely linked to those of peaty environments in a “good state of conservation”.
Peatlands are threatened by the colonisation of shrubs and trees, which absorb water and dry up the environment.
In France, it is estimated that 60,000 hectares disappeared between 1945 and 1980.
What to do to protect peatland?
The LIFE Avaloirs Project aims to restore large expanses of moorland and allow the Hen Harrier to regain a prominent place on the territory.
To support this project:
-
1 To promote awareness
talk about the project, the environment and the actions taken to protect it with those around you.
-
2 Take part
in the proposed project workshops and activities to restore areas of peatland.
-
3 Respect
the construction sites and work areas by staying on marked trails.
-
4 Always take
your litter home with you and limit all activities that could start a fire.
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