Of feathers and fur
In the North, we find a rather varied fauna, with more than 60 species of mammals including the inevitable deer, shrews, weasels, ermines and other hares! A certain number of these mammal species are classified as protected, and numerous protection measures have been put in place, notably through the ENN, the Espaces Naturels du Nord.
During your walks, you will surely have the chance to observe many birds: there are indeed more than 160 different species! Depending on the season, be prepared to see the remarkable Montagu's Harrier, the nocturnal Little Owl, the European Nightjar, the rare Little Bittern and the Blue Throat, with its unmistakable blue breast.
The hedgerows of the Avesnois or the slag heaps are areas where it is possible to meet a very specific microfauna, including some of the 19 species of amphibians and reptiles listed in the North. From the wall lizard to the natterjack to the newt or the green tree frog, and even a viper: open your eyes wide and pay attention.
If you go out at night, take a good look around you, especially at dusk: the chances are high of coming face to face with the agile and surprising bats! No less than 16 species live together in the North and its surroundings. It is up to you to go and observe the flight of the serotines, auricles or barbastelles and to admire their unparalleled acrobatic virtuosity, notably during the workshops organized in the ENN.
Finally, if you feel like fishing or watching fishes swim, no worries on this side: the North is richly endowed, whether in fresh water or in the open sea!
The fine flora of the North
Approximately 1,250 different plant species: this is the reflection of the flora of the North. If this figure may seem low compared to other French regions (notably the Mediterranean areas), it is actually logical in view of the long climatic history of the North, notably the periods of glaciation in the Quaternary when a large part of the flora was eliminated.
However, there is a real, rich and beautiful variety in this Northern flora, with certain emblematic plants that grow and flourish thanks to the different natural environments present. We note, among others, the inescapable Curtis violet, also known as dune pansy, which is found in the coastal areas of the North Sea. The Loesel's Liparis and the Creeping Shoveler are also remarkable and important conservation work is being done to ensure their protection. Another remarkable species that is now found only in very rare places in France: the Obione pédonculée, a small silvery plant that thrives on the coast. The dunes, the hillsides and the forests are also full of surprises for those who know how to keep an eye on them. Thus, we find, towards Bavay, the most important French population of Gagée à Spathe, a small bulbous plant which is known only in two regions.
If this flora is in full development, it is also threatened and, rightly, protected. An essential resource to understand the stakes of this protection: the National Botanical Conservatory of Bailleul, whose website (https://www.cbnbl.org/) is a reference to be consulted at the slightest question.
The natural spaces of the North
Remarkable for the quality of the fauna and flora that are present, the Natural Spaces of the North are specially designed to welcome all publics and managed in a perspective of preservation of species and conservation of habitats. Representative of the variety of environments present in the North (dunes, wooded areas, slag heaps, quarries...), they allow you to apprehend and appropriate nature, by means of arranged paths, thematic visits and nature workshops!
Among all the sites at your disposal, some are worth the trip to the North, alone or with your family, such as the Terril des Argales, the largest in the region, which houses a pond and offers no less than five kilometers of trails! If you are more interested in bird watching, go to the ornithological site of the 5 tailles, a Natura 2000 zone, or the Marais de la Marque, with three observatories where you can see herons, egrets and even kingfishers.
And for a natural immersion in various environments, from the Dune Marchand to the Parc de l'Abbaye de Liessies through the Chabaud-Latour site (listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site), you will be spoilt for choice!
Nature in the city
In the North, if you can't go to nature, nature comes to you. In all cities, there are remarkable parks and gardens that are well worth the detour and offer, in any season, an ideal place to relax, to walk, to rest, alone or with the family.
Thus, the Parc de la Citadelle in Lille is an absolute must and a very good example of a historical development that has become a first-class urban park! Close to the city and within the Metropolis, there is also the Parc du Héron in Villeneuve-d'Ascq as well as the Parc Barbieux in Roubaix: two great possibilities for outings and a beautiful itinerary to discover the area in a natural way, without forgetting the Parc MOSAÏC, in the heart of the Deûle park.
Finally, the garden of the Mont des Récollets, with its delicious Flemish inspiration, will make you travel as much as the garden of the wild plants of Bailleul, where the National Botanical Conservatory is located with its incredible collection of plants of the North.
