Fauna and Flora Natura 2000 zone

La Nature Enchantée du Haut-Lignon: A Journey through the Seasons
Discover the natural wealth of this area, where each season brings its own wonders. From spring narcissus to autumn mushrooms, summer blueberries and snow-covered forests, let yourself be seduced by the diversity of our flora and fauna.

In the spring, the daffodils

Winter is slowly fading away, and as soon as the first sunny days arrive, the Tourist Office switchboard is full of enquiries to see if the first flowers are appearing. As you may have guessed, the stars of spring are the wild daffodils!

They bloom in meadows, meadows and undergrowth, their trumpet shape and yellow collar attracting the attention of nature lovers. So much so, in fact, that some people feel the need to multiply their bouquets to embellish their interiors. It’s a bit like a religion: you leave the city, put on your boots and sneakers and set off in search of these little gems that brighten up the months of March and April.

Since last year, there’s even been a trail named after them. The Daffodil Trail takes you from the village of Tence along the wild trails of the Haut-Lignon through the flowers.

In summer, blueberries

Although the Ardèche is the leading producer of wild blueberries, you too can pick up a few wild berries on a summer walk in the forest. From July onwards, weather permitting, you’ll be able to find them at altitudes of between 600 and 1,200 metres in the undergrowth or moors. For the more impatient and the more greedy, you’ll find them in summer at local markets, in certain local stores and, of course, by pushing open the doors of our patisseries.

These perfect little purple berries from the woods are one of the symbols of the Ardéchoise (a famous cyclo race which attracts some 10,000 amateur cyclists in mid-June). Indeed, you’ll find some of our villages decorated in violet and yellow (for blueberries and broom, an endemic plant).

At the GIE des producteurs de fruits rouges des Monts du Velay in Pouzols à Saint-Jeures, you can round out your berry basket with raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, redcurrants and blackcurrants for delicious jams and desserts.

More info

In autumn, Mushrooms

Just like everywhere else in the Auvergne, in the meadows and forests of the Haute-Loire, the mushroom is king. From spring morels to a carpet of mousserons, girolles or cèpes, our wild expanses conceal many edible treasures.

In meadows and undergrowth, Haut-Lignon is a land of mushrooms. As soon as the first autumn frost arrives, it’s time to “maybe fill your basket”, but also to take a walk in the fresh air of the forest. Look up and admire the spectacle! The trees dance in the wind, the leaves sing and the lights change at every hour of the day. The whole of nature is in turmoil as the baskets are filled with porcini mushrooms, chanterelles, trumpets of death, sheep’s feet, coulemelles and chanterelles grises.

Unique in France, more than 1,000 varieties of mushroom grow in our undergrowth… The quality and variety of the soil, biodiversity and altitude variations are at the root of this phenomenon.

Nature outings

In Haut-Lignon, we organize several nature outings during the summer and autumn, accompanied by Olivier, our hiking guide, who is also passionate about the great outdoors. He’ll let you in on a few secrets to help you succeed in your search, but never his little corners! It’s a well-known fact that every good mushroom picker will never reveal his corner… so be patient! This trip will leave you with a “tasty” souvenir of your stay in the south of the Auvergne!

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Recipe idea

And what could be more exciting for a mushroom lover than to make a little detour to Saint-Bonnet-le-Froid, the gourmet mushroom capital and Mecca of French gastronomy, just a stone’s throw away! Come and do your shopping at the big mushroom fair in early November, or make a date for the morel fair in May at Riotord. There’s plenty to enjoy with family and friends!

Porcini mushroom soup

In winter, the forest

My beautiful fir, king of the forest,
How I love your greenery!
When, in winter, woods and fords,
Are stripped of their charms,
My beautiful fir, king of forests,
You keep your finery.

Wrapped up warmly in the four corners of the Haut-Lignon, winter is a time for sharing and indulgence, where you can feast your taste buds with your family by the fireside, or feast your eyes on the rugged, frosty landscapes of the plateau. Winter can be long on the plateau, with snowfalls, during which the burle blows.
The short vegetation period bears witness to the plateau’s harsh climate. The vegetation consists of beech, fir and Scots pine. The latter are found throughout the plateau, particularly in the drier, sunnier parts. Beech and fir occupy the cooler, wetter areas.
The king of the forest is there, majestic, whether grandis, spruce or Douglas fir, you’ll recognize it among all the others. And when December comes, its sweet, resinous scent will perfume your living room and decorate it for Christmas. It’s sure to bring back childhood memories as you rub its thorns in your hand on every Sunday stroll.

Flora, the wild plants that make flowering fields in the Haut-Lignon region so delightful!

Wild narcissus
Dandelion
Purple foxgloves
Brooms
Wild blueberries

Wild narcissus

They’re the daffodil’s big sisters, taller on the stem, with larger petals and a stronger fragrance – you can’t go wrong, they’re narcissi. They’re less common in the Haut-Lignon region, but there are a few secret spots where you can take some wonderful photos or make a pretty, fragrant bouquet.

Dandelion

How about putting on your boots, grabbing your basket and heading out to pick a few dandelions for lunch or dinner? Just stroll through the fields and pick them when they’re fresh. The youngest plants will be the most tender, so don’t wait for the bud to form. Later, as soon as they bloom, they’ll brighten up the “wild” fieldswith their yellow color, and then form the little white “puff” bud that we all remember from childhood.

Purple foxgloves

Foxgloves are among the flowers our eyes are drawn to, both for their natural beauty and for their marvelous color, which calls out to us in the “green” of forests, on the edges of woods, and very often also present in forest clearings or wasteland. From June to September, lulled by the wind and illuminated by the sun’s rays, the bells of the foxglove will not leave you indifferent as you stroll along the Haut-Lignon and towards the Mezenc massif.

Brooms

You may also hear about “brooms ” on the plateau. These are, of course, the beautiful brooms that are so nicknamed, which, once dried, can be used like a broom for housework. Particularly on the farms of the plateau, you’ll often find one at the entrance to the stables, to sweep up hay or dust. And when June comes, on all south-facing slopes, you’ll only have to lift your nose to smell its intense aroma, reminiscent of the sunny landscapes of nearby Ardèche. In fact, the famous Ardéchoise (cycle race) bears the color of this region, and you won’t want to miss the yellow and purple decorations that adorn each of our little villages.

Wild blueberries

You’re sure to come across them along little paths, and very often at the roadside, at the edge of wheat fields. In summer, from June onwards, and again in July and August, they magnify the golden color of the ears of wheat with their brilliant blue hues! Wildflower lovers will love slipping a few into the heart of their country bouquet.

Among carnivores, can you recognize the genet? It belongs to the viverridae family. Between the size of a marten and a cat, it can be recognized by its tail, which is almost as long as its body. It mainly consumes small mammals, but also occasionally birds and medium-sized mammals such as squirrels.

In Haute-Loire, you’ll come across other species such as the forest cat, fox, weasel, marten, polecat, ermine, badger and otter.

Or even rarer: the wolf and the lynx.

Some, like the hedgehog, really don’t need any introduction. Also present in the area are moles, shrews, crossbills and rattlesnakes.

The roe deer is half the size and one-fifth the weight of the stag, and has a light spot on its buttocks called a mirror. And it’s the deer you’re likely to come across on your walks in the forest, or early in the morning or at dusk on the edge of a meadow. He’s quite wary, and will certainly be afraid of you, unless it’s him who makes you jump when you approach to pick a pretty boletus at the edge of the forest or in the middle of the brambles. You can also spot them as you drive along, and watch out for them bouncing around – often in a family, when there’s one, there’s sure to be a second or even a third following not far behind. As for the doe, she’s the female of the stag, but she won’t be making eyes at you in Haut-Lignon, nor will the stag, which is not familiar with our territory.

The wild boar is also very present in the area, and although it’s very wild, you may still catch a glimpse of one in the forest, or even see one crossing the road at night.

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