Natural Environments

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The Bogland

Within the Haut Chitelet High Altitude Garden, a broad peaty area is the object of an overall protection. Towards the end of its evolution, this bogland was at a drying stage – reinforced by former drainage processes and the building of military structures, such as tranches – and being colonised by shrubs and trees (willows, birches, spruces...).

 

Bogland of the Haut Chitelet High Altitude Garden© P.-F. Valck
— Bogland of the Haut Chitelet High Altitude Garden© P.-F. Valck

In order to counter this evolution, the Conservatoire des Espaces Naturels de Lorraine started restoration works in 2012. Several drainage channels are resealed to retain water.

The bogland is open to visitors. A footbridge gives visitors the opportunity to discover this ecosystem.

The High-Altitude Beech Forest

Transitioning from the mountain level to the subalpine level is usually characterised by the disappearance of beech trees as well as other deciduous trees in favour of conifers. However, in the Vosges, the number of conifers gradually declines, whereas beeches with twisted trunks gain ground. This is due to particular climatic conditions: violent and frequent westerlywinds, heavy cloud cover – with persistent freezing fogs – and accumulated snowfalls that are more easily tolerated by beeches as they shed their leaves in winter, contrary to conifers that keep their thorns...

The high-altitude beech forest © P.-F. Valck
— The high-altitude beech forest © P.-F. Valck

The originality of the high-altitude beech forest also lies in its herbaceous vegetation: Gymnocarpium dryopteris, Polygonum bistorta, Cicerbita alpina...