#: locale=en
## Tour
### Description
tour.description = Virtual Tour of the Chatelain Forest
### Title
tour.name = Chatelain Forest
## Skin
### Multiline Text
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HTMLText_241E6C3D_345E_6D61_41BD_8A32E0F3D6D4.html = 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°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
Douglas-fir
Genus: Pseudotsuga menziesii
Douglas Fir is a species of the pinaceous family, native to the Pacific Coast of North America. Originally introduced into Breton parks in the mid-19th century, this species is one of the most widely used in reforestation in France because of its rapid growth. It also has good technical qualities (for example for carpentry wood processing and exterior construction) because it is rot-proof to the core. Fun fact: Despite its name, it's not actually a fir tree!
Growth: strong
Height: 40 to 60 meters
Foliage: persistent with dark cover
Trunk: straight with smooth bark dotted with numerous fragrant pustules
Bark: cracked and corky with age
Color: reddish brown
Douglas-fir
Genus: Pseudotsuga menziesii
Douglas Fir is a species of the pinaceous family, native to North America's Pacific Coast, used widely in reforestation in France because of its rapid growth.
Growth: strong
Height: 40 to 60 meters
Foliage: persistent with dark cover
Trunk: straight with smooth bark dotted with numerous fragrant pustules
Bark: cracked and corky with age
Color: reddish brown
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.
Chatelain Forest
Pays de la Loire, France
Nestled between two villages not far from world-famous Le Mans, Chatelain is a predominantly oak forest bordered by the Pignerie stream and agricultural land. The main species of sessile and pedunculate oak and ash were planted in the 90s, and the old tree embankments along the fields have been preserved. We thin and partition your trees regularly here, to allow sunlight and encourage natural regeneration. Take an L-shaped walk with us along the grassy trails and tracks past herbs and brambles and enjoy the light dancing down through the leaves.
Chatelain Forest
Pays de la Loire, France
Take an L-shaped walk with us through the predominantly oak Châtelain Forest near world-famous Le Mans. The main species of sessile and pedunculate oak and ash were planted in the 90s, and the old tree embankments along the neighbouring fields have been preserved, in this pretty little forest nestled between two villages..
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!
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.