A Walk on the Eperon Barre de Murat

The Eperon Barré de Murat is a ridge of limestone (Fr. tuffeau jaune) topped by a plateau at about 120 metres above sea level. This site, frequented by Mankind since the Neolithic was formed by the confluence of the valleys of the Brignon and the Larçon. It is a well known site for wild orchids and the habitat they require is maintained by a flying flock (Fr. troupeau itinerant) of grazing sheep.  The calcareous grasslands shelter a number of insects, such as cicadas (Fr. cigales) and the Large Blue butterfly (Fr. papillon Azuré du serpolet) which require dry sunny places.

 

Tassel Hyacinth Muscari comosum (Fr. Muscari  à toupet).

Two ancient defensive walls, called a vallum, are still visible at the narrow end of the site. They served to protect and 'bar' access to a prehistoric settlement. 

 

There were lots of caterpillars of the localised and increasingly rare Small Eggar moth Eriogaster lanestris (in French the caterpillars are called la Laineuse du cerisier).

The site is managed by the Conservatoire d'Espaces Naturels Centre Val de Loire.

 

 Small Heath butterfly Coenonympha pamphilus (Fr. Procris).

Earlier this month Simon and I did the 3.5 km circuit around the site so I could check the progress of the orchid flowering season. It was a hot sunny day in the mid-twenties temperature wise, and about half the walk is not shaded. Just to warn you -- this is a hot site much of the year, so take water to drink. We took about an hour to get around and saw 5 species of orchid in flower. Unbeknownst to me, my friend François, who is an ecologist for the Conservatoire, was also there that day. He bagged an extra species of orchid, damn him...

 

 Downy Oak Quercus pubescens (Fr. Chêne pubescent).

Lady Orchid Orchis purpurea (Fr. Orchis pourpre).

View looking north-east from the vallum.

Violet Fritillary Boloria dia (Fr. Petite violette).

Narrow-leaved Helleborine Cephalanthera longifolia (Fr. Céphalanthère à feuilles étroites).

The uncommon Green-underside Blue butterfly Glaucopsyche alexis (Fr. Azuré des cytises).

A number of Early Spider Orchids Ophrys sphegodes (Fr. Ophrys araignée) lurking about in the grass.

 

 

Further Reading: https://espacesnaturels.touraine.fr/eperon-de-murat.html (page for the nature reserve, in French).

A New and Unnecessary Garden Bed

I am dismayed to see that part of the nature strip near the médiathèque has been dug up and planted with garden plants that, whilst certainly eye-catching, are rather ordinary. 

 

 Lovely pocket of wild bee and orchid friendly habitat on the left. Banal bed of primulas on the right.

This area, along with the public park containing the chapel and the space behind the médiathèque, is a veritable treasure trove of natural biodiversity! It is teeming with native plant species, fungi and wild pollinators nesting in the ground, perfectly adapted to this dry, gravelly and compacted soil. Some of these species are uncommon, others even rare, and at least one, although it thrives here, is globally threatened.

These green spaces, left to minimal management, contribute enormously to Preuilly’s environmental well-being. They do not contribute as much if they are disturbed by earthworks and alterations.

 

Autumn Lady's Tresses leaf rosette, low profile enough to be safe from the mower, but the flower spike never survives to set seed.

Do you think a nature-loving tourist will be more impressed by the four species of wild orchids they can see near the médiathèque, or by a few primula they could grow in their own garden at home?

But these areas are mowed far too often by the local council. Every year, I look forward to seeing certain specific species and I tell my friends to come and look, only to find the special plants have been mowed off in their prime the day before.

 

The offending flower bed, plonked right over the spot where the Ivy Bees and Sand Wasps nest.

I have written about these wonderful little wild spots on several occasions, and here is a link to give you an idea. 

 Further reading:

Biodiversity at the Bibliotheque https://daysontheclaise.blogspot.com/2021/09/biodiversity-at-bibliotheque.html

 

I've emailed the town hall to express my disgruntlement, and the new mayor has responded saying she would be delighted to meet to discuss. So now I've emailed my retired ecologist friend who lives in town to see if he would be willing to accompany me to a meeting. I'd like to get the discussion extended to the cemetery too. It could certainly do with some 'greening'.

Visiting Chenonceau in June

 I've been to the famous Chateau de Chenonceau multiple times in the past few weeks.

 

Wild native Bee Orchid Ophrys apifera.

Wild native Ivy Broomrape Orobanche hederae.

Floral arrangement in the entry hall.

A small early instar Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis larva.

Roses.

Bee hive. Further reading: Teaching Hive at Chenonceau.

This swathe of pink 'wild flower' or 'prairie' planting is new for this year.

Young Japanese women enjoying their visit. I love how they are channeling their inner 19th century wood block print artist.

Green-winged Orchid

This year I was introduced to a large colony of Green-winged Orchids Anacamptis morio (Fr. Orchis bouffon) that I previously had no idea existed. As is often the case with this species, the colony is associated with old vineyards. Once upon a time the south facing slopes above Yzeures sur Creuse were planted with vines. Now the vines have gone, but the orchids which grew amongst them remain.

The inflorescences are made up of a maximum of about 20 flowers, which can range in colour from violet to purple to lilac pink or even white. The petals form a cap which is faintly striped with grey-green on the outside. The wide labellum has a pale centre, often spotted with purple. The nectar spur is short, thick, flattened and dimpled at the tip.

This is a species that flowers early in the season, which is April here in the Touraine.

It grows in full sun in natural grassland, woodland edges and clearings.

Its natural distribution is vast, from Iran to Norway, and all of the Mediterranean basin.

In the Touraine the species is not threatened although habitat destruction must be a concern. In Asia Minor colonies can be wiped out because the bulbs are used commercially to make salep, a flour made from the tubers that is used to make drinks and ice cream.

Checking Out the Early Orchids

I needed cheering up the other day so Simon and I went for a drive around our various local orchid sites to see what was out yet. 

 

Early Purple Orchid Orchis mascula (Fr. Orchis mâle).

Early Purple Orchids.

Knitting bombed bicycles over the voie verte (greenway) in Bossay sur Claise.

Monkey Orchid Orchis simia (Fr. Orchis singe).

Country road.

Lady Orchid Orchis purpurea (Fr. Orchis pourpre).

Early Spider Orchid Ophrys sphegodes (Fr. Ophrys araignée)

Lupin crop.

Canola pollen on the road.

Biodiversity Outreach

 A month or so ago my friend Yolande rang me up and asked if I'd accompany her to the State primary school to give a talk to the CM2 pupils (10-11 year olds) about what was special about the little park at the end of our street. Yolande is a Preuilly municipal council member and her area of responsibility is education. I've been indoctrinating her for years about what a marvellous little biodiversity reserve the park and the adjacent nature strip and grounds of the public library are. She's listened and taken on board my suggestions, so these areas are not scalped by the council works mowers quite so often, and wild orchids, fungi and uncommon ground nesting hymenoptera abound.

 

Me talking to the kids.

So we hatched a plan for Yolande to talk about the cultural heritage in the park ie it was a medieval cemetery, with a newly restored late 15th century chapel of ease on the site, containing very important wall paintings. Then I talked about all the species which inhabit the park. The kids want to create a project to improve the park and we wanted to steer them away from turning it into a playground and focus more on it being a peaceful haven for people and wildlife.

I think the kids received the message. They are very keen to hang wind chimes, put up bird nest boxes, maybe an insect hotel, and to create info boards. Yolande and I are less keen on the wind chime idea, and they've been firmly told that they have to be made from natural materials, not plastic... We are OK with nest boxes, and I think Yolande and I like the idea of an insect hotel more than the kids do. Although several kids reported that they have a bee hotel at home in their garden, with occupants, so that's good. 

The one thing we all agreed on was doing info boards. I've been wanting to do one for several years and it is a perfect project for kids. They can take all the photos, do the layout and artwork, and contribute to the text. I look forward to where this will all go. We are planning to have a 'field trip' later in the year, when I can show them orchids and bees in real life, rather than just photos.

Walking From le Grand Pressigny

On Monday 14 October both Simon and I joined the Phoenix en Claise walking group for a 5.75 kilometre walk from le Grand Pressigny. It was remarkably warm, in the low 20s celsius, and took an hour and a half. Simon did 3 kilometres and then peeled off to return to the car. He's not quite fit enough at the moment for the full walk and was worried he would conk out.

 

A friend greets us from her window.

A village house being restored.

The Chateau du Grand Pressigny.

The ruined keep of the Chateau du Grand Pressigny.

The Nymphaeum, a spring fed pool that served as a relaxation station for 17th century aristocratic women.

An Ivy Bee Colletes hederae (Fr. Collète du lierre) doing what it does best -- feeding on ivy flowers.

Yellow Stainers Agaricus xanthodermus (Fr. Agaric jaunissant), growing in typical fashion, through a hedgerow.

Lizard Orchid Himantoglossum hircinum (Fr. Orchis bouc) leaf rosettes.

Big Sheath Mushroom Volvopluteus gloiocephalus (Fr. Volvaire gluante).

View looking down the Claise Valley.