Boisement Water Chipilly Belvedere (viewpoint) Prairie-Pâture Agricultural land Larris Wooded areas Espace urbanisé Wetlands at the bottom of the valley

Somme Canal Reed Beds

Lock-keeper’s House Départ Eglise de Le-Quesne

Wooden foot-bridge me Un des points de vue les

m plus hauts de la Somme

o Starting Point S D Lock-keeper’s house at d l Méricourt-sur-Somme O Préservons la nature Vous participez à la conservation de la richesse P Car Park de ce site fragile : . en empruntant les sentiers, . en refermant les passe-clôtures après votre passage, ! Be careful: . en respectant sa faune et sa flore, Hunting is carried out on . en emportant vos déchets en quittant le site. this site during the official

P Rannou © S. hunting period. Please be careful during this period. Starting at: Car park at Protect the natural The Marshlands of the lock-keeper’s house at Méricourt-sur-Somme Méricour environment D To help with the conservation of the rich natural habitats of this fragile Méricourt-sur-Somme t-sur site, please: Time: 30 mins Méricourt-sur-Somme, By visiting the marshlands of -Somme . Always use the marked trails . Keep gates and stiles closed 8km from Bray-sur-Somme, Méricourt, nature will reveal all of its . Respect the fauna and flora 31km from Amiens beauty. Hiking, hunting, fishing, and nature Distance: 1,5km . Take your litter away with you discovery activities - something N 0 50 100m for everyone. This trail is maintained by Route: easy the Poppy Country

Sign posts Route continues Wrong direction Change of direction For more information:

• Tourist Office: Abbeville Poppy Country : 03 22 75 11 72 Albert Spring www.tourisme-paysducoquelicot.com Bray-sur-Somme Péronne 0 250 500 m • Audio-guide for the walk: Amiens This leaflet was created by www.zevisit.com/tourisme/pays-du- Méricourt-sur-Somme Summer the Somme County Council coquelicot 43, rue de la République - 80026 Amiens cedex 1 • Somme Tourist Board: Autumn 03 22 71 80 80 www.somme-tourisme.com www.somme.fr www.somme-nature.com Winter • This walk has received the: “Tourism and Handicap National Label”

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 16 © S. Rannou © S.

right, you will find a habitat A potential that should be The Marshlands of Méricourt-sur-Somme of great interest to birds, such conserved By visiting the marshlands of Méricourt-sur-Somme, you can enjoy a magnificent site as the Marsh Harrier or the All of these species of wildlife and vegetation make up a biological characteristic of the Somme Valley. Follow our guide to the heart of these re-established Kingfisher, which are attracted potential that it is important to preserve. marshlands and discover a site managed and maintained by man, but where nature is by the patchwork of natural The restoration of suitable habitats and reclaiming its rights. habitats. You will find a diverse areas of reproduction at the heart of web of ponds, reed beds, small the site would offer an extra chance A place between land the hiking trail: “The Cows’ channels, peaty bogs, and to all of these species to develop

Franck d’espaces / Conservatoire Grandpierre © L. naturels de Picardie and water Marsh”. Carry on towards the woods of alder and willow. and colonise new biotopes. An area Beauvarlet, Orange-spotted Emerald: The Orange-spotted “ecogérée” (ecologically maintained) Mayor of Méricourt- Plunge into this peaceful green old River Somme and follow Emerald is a dragonfly of a metallic-green colour with By following the Somme by the Conservatoire d’Espaces Naturels sur-Somme setting situated between land its banks turning right at the yellow spots along the top of the abdomen. It likes to Canal to reach the lock- frequent large rivers and ponds surrounded by woods de Picardie, has been established to “The municipal and water. The ponds and Ablette d’Or Ponds. and thickets. It can often be seen in the Somme Valley. preserve the biodiversity of the site at keeper’s house, you will pass council took on marshes are encircled to the the north-east limit of the marshes. the ecological Cross the stile on the left in the proximity of a spawning after the development and It is only open to the public during

© S. Rannou © S. east by the Somme Canal and rehabilitation of where the information panel ground: a body of water maintenance work that was organised visits. to the west by the old Somme the site in 2006. Before this time, retracing the site’s history offering a haven of peace to carried out. The courtship 40 hectares were rented out and the River. The water from this river will tell you more about the fish during the reproduction dance of the Great Crested area was occupied by chalets. When stretches out and forms ponds; development and maintenance period. You will certainly see Grebe, the flowering of the we took over the site, we worked in this water filled area, the to transform the site into an area work that has been carried out. the Common Snipe, and other reeds or the metamorphosis of fauna and flora flourish… for leisure activities. Through wood Follow the path, edged with small passerine birds: species the dragonflies will no longer clearing, grazing, fishing and the Yellow Irises, until you reach that have returned to the site hold any secrets for you. introduction of educational areas, Follow the guide we have given back to nature what To reach the starting point of the Somme Canal. On your man had taken out.” the walk at the lock-keeper’s house at Méricourt-sur-Somme, About the site follow the signposts leading to the Caesar’s Camp Belvedere, > Proprietor: Municipality of situated by Méricourt Church. Méricourt-sur-Somme d’espaces naturels de Picardie Dehondt / Conservatoire © F. > Size: 40ha Follow the trail to the left Bulrush > Managed by: Municipality of leading to the educational With a large, upright stem which can Méricourt-sur-Somme pond where a picnic area has © C. Rousseau © C. reach 2,5 metres in height, it holds > Maintenance partners: been established. This walk Bluethroat: The Bluethroat is a passerine bird that seeds and is enclosed by large, sword Syndicat de la Vallée des Anguillères, leads around many ponds, belongs to the Muscicapidae family. It seeks areas shaped leaves. Its flowers take the Conservatoire d’Espaces Naturels de containing plenty of water and is fond of large form of a large cigar, starting off green Picardie surrounded by pollarded reed beds filled with willow thickets, using them to in colour but quickly becoming brown. > Financial partners: Poppy Country, willows where “catch and perch and sing. Not very common to Picardy, the conservation of this species is considered to be a This plant, which develops rapidly and Europe, State, County release” fishing is carried out. priority in Europe. © S. Rannou © S. doesn’t mind periods of cold weather, At this point the walk crosses grows with its feet in shallow water.