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## Tour
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tour.name = Préaux Forest
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Genus: Fraxinus
Ash likes to grow in sunny areas, by riversides or in mixed forests. It's a hardy soul that can withstand temperatures as low as -17°C. Today, ash makes up 2.6% of French forests. Fun fact: Ash is a member of the olive and lilac family, Oleaceae.
Growth: rapid
Height: up to 40 meters
Foliage: composed of leaves facing away from the top, finely pointed at the tip
Trunk: grooved
Bark: smooth, cracks after 30 years causing a network of cracks
Colour: pale grey with slightly pinkish pearly reflections
Ash
Genus: Fraxinus
Ash likes to grow in sunny areas, by riversides or in mixed forests. It's a hardy soul that can withstand temperatures as low as -17°. Today, ash makes up 2.6% of French forests. Fun fact: Ash is a member of the olive and lilac family, Oleaceae.
Growth: rapid
Height: up to 40 meters
Foliage: composed of leaves facing away from the top, finely pointed at the tip
Trunk: grooved
Bark: smooth, cracks after 30 years causing a network of cracks
Colour: pale grey with slightly pinkish pearly reflections
Black Walnut
Genus: Juglans nigra
Named for their bark's dark grey color, black walnuts are planted for their nuts and their valuable, deep brown wood. It’s a powerful tree with a broad, arched crown, with equally strong branches that spread out widely. They tend to grow in ripsylvian environments because they prefer rich, moist soil.
Growth: rapid
Height: up to 30-40 meters
Foliage: long, dark green leaves that turn yellow in autumn. Their underside is typically fuzzy.
Bark: deeply furrowed and dark
Colour: dark brown to dark grey
Black Walnut
Genus: Juglans nigra
Black walnuts like rich, moist soil and are valued for their nuts and their deep brown wood. It’s a powerful tree with a broad, arched crown, with strong branches that spread out widely.
Growth: rapid
Height: up to 30-40 meters
Foliage: long, dark green leaves that turn yellow in autumn. Their underside is typically fuzzy.
Bark: deeply furrowed and dark
Colour: dark brown to dark grey
Pine Marten
Martes martes
Pine martens are native to Northern Europe. These slender, agile mammals with bushy tails and large paws have partially retractable claws, which enable them to lead arboreal lives. They live in well-wooded areas and are usually climbing or running on tree branches. They are mainly active at night and dusk, and they have great hearing. During the hot season, martens nest in hollow in the trunks of trees.
The European pine marten's fur is usually light to dark brown. It’s recognizable by the creamy yellow 'bib' marking on its throat. Martens are vulnerable to woodland loss and human predator control.
Pine Marten
Martes martes
Pine martens are slender, agile mammals native to Northern Europe. They live arboreal lives in well-wooded areas and are usually climbing or running on tree branches. The European pine marten's fur ranges from light to dark brown, with a creamy yellow 'bib' marking on its throat.
Préaux Forest
Mayenne, France
The Préaux forest was once agricultural land, but was reforested in the mid 90s. Take a U-shaped walk with us and you'll discover uneven aged trees of various species - mainly oak, cherrywood, ash and black walnut. Near the edge you'll be met with the refreshing sight of the Vaige river flowing steadily in the shade of thick canopies. Soon, some stands will be thinned out to encourage natural regeneration and allow the sturdiest trees to flourish. Can you find the arrow that will take you to the center of the field?
Préaux Forest
Mayenne, France
Take a U-shaped walk with us you'll discover the various species rooted in the Préaux forest: oak, cherry, ash and black walnut. Can you find the arrow that will take you to the center of the field? Or will you wind down under the thick canopies that tower over the tranquil Vaige river?
Sessile Oak
Genus: Quercus petraea
A common tree in the gardens, parks and forests of Europe, the Sessile Oak is sometimes called the King of Trees because of its imposing stature. These giants can grow to over 35 metres high, depending on the species, and can live for several centuries. Fun fact: There are over 500 species of oak tree!
Growth: rapid
Height: 30 to 50 meters
Foliage: dense and persistent; solid green; the most common leaf shape is lobed
Trunk: irregular crown appearance with bent branches
Bark: rich in tannin
Color: light brown
Sessile Oak
Genus: Quercus petraea
Sessile Oak, known as King of Trees, can grow to over 35 metres high, depending on the species. They can also live for several centuries.
Growth: rapid
Height: 30 to 50 meters
Foliage: dense and persistent; solid green; the most common leaf shape is lobed
Trunk: irregular crown appearance with bent branches
Bark: rich in tannin
Color: light brown
Central European Boar
Sus scrofa scrofa
This sub-species of wild boar is very common on mainland Europe. They are medium-sized with a dark to rusty brown coat of fur. You can usually find them in deciduous and mixed forests, especially those comprising oak and beech. Wild boar societies are matriarchal, so groups are generally composed of interrelated females and their young, while adult males are solitary outside of breeding season.
Like their domesticated cousins, they are omnivorous, but unlike pigs their bulk is at the front of their bodies, not the back. They have big torsos, thick necks and very large heads. This bulk grants them great strength for digging or ploughing. Boars can be unpredictable and aggressive, so try to keep a safe distance if you encounter one!
Central European Boar
Sus scrofa scrofa
This medium-sized sub-species of wild boar is common on mainland Europe, in deciduous and mixed forests. They are omnivorous and live in matriarchal societies of interrelated females and solitary males. They have dark to rusty brown fur, big torsos and large heads, good for digging. Boars can be aggressive, so keep a safe distance if you encounter one!
You found it!
Here, the previous land owners planted black walnut trees over a small area of 4000m2. These trees are young, which is why their trunk is relatively thin. Trees first lengthen, growing vertically to acces light, and then thicken, growing in diameter as it forms new rings. The grassy area is filled with brambles, so watch your step!
You found it!
Here, the previous land owners planted black walnut trees over a small area of 4000m2. These trees are young, which is why their trunk is relatively thin. Trees first lengthen, growing vertically to acces light, and then thicken, growing in diameter as it forms new rings. The grassy area is filled with brambles, so watch your step!
European Hare
Lepus europaeus
European hares are a herbivorous, shy and mostly nocturnal species native to Europe and parts of Asia. Hares live in temperate, open country, so you are most likely to spot them in fields, running or hiding in the brush, but it’s still common to spot some in forests. Hares’ large, powerful hind legs make them impressive runners, an important feature to escape large birds of prey, canids and felids!
You can tell hares apart from rabbits because they’re much larger, leaner and golden brown in colour. Their ears are larger, with distinctive black tips. Unlike rabbits, hares don’t live in burrows, but in depressions on the ground’s surface.
European Hare
Lepus europaeus
European hares are a herbivorous, shy and mostly nocturnal species native to Europe and parts of Asia. Hares live in open country, but it’s still common to spot some in forests. They are larger and leaner than rabbits, with golden brown fur, black-tipped ears and powerful hind legs.