Water T owpath Wooded areas

Wetlands at the bottom of the valley

Agricultural land

Pasturelands

T owpath Gardens

Chalk-banks

Information panel

Starting Point D Turn left along the towpath to the O left of the canal. After 800 metres ld Railway line S o take the trail to the left, which m m will take you to the ponds. e Canal P Parking Along the D57 between Bourdon and Hangest-sur-Somme

Be careful: ! Waterfowl shooting is carried out Bazin © C. close to this area between mid-

August and mid-February D Starting at: Bourdon, (depending on official dates). 3 The Cavins Marshes car park opposite the Please be careful during this period. Longpré-les cooperative Corps-Saints The natural environment is precious, please respect it! Bourdon, 8km from Halfway along the Somme Valley, The Cavins Marshes are some of the fragile Station D Picquigny, 21km from in the midst of the river banks, the Cavins Time: 1 hour natural areas that have been acquired by HANGEST Marshes are situated in an area of great the County Council to assure their protection ecological interest and beautiful scenery. and to open them to the public. SUR SOMME Distance: 3km n A walk combining nature and culture! P o rd This trail is maintained by u o the County Council N 0 125 250m Cooperative B of agriculture Route: easy

Sign posts Route continues Wrong direction Change of direction For more information: • Tourist Offices: Picquigny : 03 22 51 46 85 - www.otccoa.fr Longpré-les-Corps-Saints : 03 22 31 72 02 Spring 0 250 500 m • Somme Tourist Board: Bourdon Péronne www.somme-tourisme.com Picquigny Amiens This leaflet was created by www.somme-nature.com Summer the Somme County Council • This walk has received the: “Tourism and 43, rue de la République - 80026 Amiens cedex 1 Handicap National Label”: Autumn 03 22 71 80 80 www.somme.fr Winter

Walk

Exploring the natural sites

Summer 2012 Summer Updates and printing: imp. Cg80 - Translation: C. Carnel - - Carnel C. Translation: - Cg80 imp. printing: and Updates Written by: Ombeline CHIVE - Design: L’Agence par A Propos Propos A par L’Agence Design: - CHIVE Ombeline by: Written 15 © C. Bazin © C.

with the added beauty of the white or violet flowers of the Management of the site The Cavins Marshes Water Lillies on the ponds. Common Comfrey, followed If maintenance work is insufficient, Overlooked by the Hangest-sur-Somme chalk-banks, the Cavins Marshes, like the Continuing along the trail, you by a large reed bed on the left. the accumulation of organic waste will create a richer soil and the marshes neighbouring marshes of the Château, belong to a group of vast peaty wetlands and could have a rest on one of will eventually dry out. Wet grasslands, the benches before arriving at After the final footbridge, you ponds of the Somme Valley. They are considered to be unique in Europe. Following will discover the low-marshes progressively being taken over by the site’s meeting point where willow thickets, would then develop this 3km trail, come and discover a walk that combines nature and culture through a which formed after bank you will find a picnic area, a In the absence of maintenance work, “literature circuit” based on the novel “En Famille” by Hector Malot. landing site for canoes and restoration work was carried the terrestrial environments naturally kayaks, and “catch and release” out by the Conservatoire evolve towards wooded areas of d’Espaces Naturels de Picardie. thickets of willow, birch, alder and ash, fishing areas. Information which offer a poorer ecological interest. A legacy of the past panels and an orientation table Plants characteristic of the Jean-Paul environment grow here, such Maintenance strimming is regularly Grumetz, The large ponds were created will unveil the secrets of the carried out and the strimming waste is as the Dwarf Hairgrass, Brown Tour guide and by the removal of peat, fauna and flora of the site, taken away; the willow thickets are also lecturer for Galingale and the Nodding cleared and certain pollarded trees are “Discovery of the extracted using a special and highlight the novel “En Bur-marigold. cared for. Val de Nièvre and spade: a “louchet” in French. Famille” by Hector Malot.

Surrounding Area” The property is made up of Continue the walk, passing You will now return to the © O. Chivé © O. “This is a wonderful large stretches of water and Bazin © C. in front of a chalet, along the towpath that will take you back area to explore and to enjoy the many narrow belts of land trail which will take you to to the car park. tranquillity. The walk allows you to patchworked with reed beds path on the left. You will now the lodge, tucked behind the discover the riches of the Somme: be able to admire the whole a land of water. Completed with a and willow thickets. vegetation of the wetlands and literature circuit, it also highlights site from the heart of the river the willow thickets. the legacy of the novel “En Famille”, Wetlands, covered by high- banks. by Hector Malot. The marshlands growing vegetation, such as Following the path, which Once on the walkways, keep are mentioned in his work when the reeds and plants growing to a will take you to the end of heroine comes to live in the area. your eyes open and you may the walk, you will notice the height of two metres, are very © CEN Picardie Combining nature and culture, this is be lucky enough to see a Little a walk not to be missed!” numerous. Bittern, the smallest heron in The Little Bittern is a type of nesting Europe. This species, whose Guided tour and migratory heron that belongs to About the site population is endangered in the Ardeidae family. It is recognisable To explore this site, rendez- Europe, uses the ponds and by its small size: equivalent to that > Proprietor: Somme County Council vous at the car park between wetlands for feeding. They are of a pigeon, and its straw-yellow > Size: 17ha Bourdon and Hangest, on the colouring that brightens up the back fond of the reed beds bordered > Managed by: Somme County D57. A little trail on the right of its head and black back. This species Council by willow bushes, probably will bring you to the towpath. is considered endangered in > Maintenance partners: using them as breeding sites. and Europe. Conservatoire d’Espaces Naturels de Continue for 800 metres until Picardie you reach the entrance of the During the good weather, the

> Financial partners: Europe, State, site via a little footbridge and scenery is even more beautiful Maillet/CEN Picardie © S. Maillet/CEN Picardie © S. Agence de l’Eau Dwarf Hairgrass Brown Galingale