Wildlife between land and sea
Just like the Opal landscapes, the area's wildlife is highly diversified. You won't be able to escape the mocking laughter of the seagulls, the dance of the gulls, the heavy, slow steps of the boulonnais horse or the Highland cow.
In April, the region welcomes a high concentration of migratory birds, a veritable ballet of herring gulls, greylag geese, black-headed gulls and gannets. Of the 300 different species nesting in the sensitive natural areas of Pas-de-Calais and the Bay of the Somme, more than 20 are protected at European level. These include the Eurasian spoonbill, bittern, short-eared owl, marsh harrier and white stilt.
Other animals are part of the landscape, such as the Boulonnais draught horse, often seen on the Boulonnais plains. Its beautiful coat is generally light, ranging from grey-white to iron-grey. Powerful and enduring, the Boulonnais horse is also fast and lively. A hundred years ago, it was the work horse of Flanders and Normandy. The Henson horse is emblematic of the Bay of the Somme. It is the result of a cross between Fjord ponies and saddle horses in the 1970s. These horses are well-suited to trail riding, and if you go for a ride in the Baie de Somme, you're sure to do it on the back of a Henson!
The countryside also means cows, and not just any cows! The Flemish Red is recognizable by its mahogany coat and elegant silhouette. Her pedigree book was opened in Bergues in 1886, and it was from this region that Filouse originated. She was the star of the Salon International de l'Agriculture in 2015, as she was featured on the posters! The milk of the Flemish red is rich in protein, and is used to make cheeses such as maroilles, bergues and mont des cats. You'll also be surprised to come across the Highland cow, a Scottish breed made for marshy terrain. Robust and hardy, they are nevertheless small and docile. Its coat can be plain - black, red, white, yellow, gray - or brindle (striped). It is an important asset in the management of natural areas, which has led to its introduction into the landscape.
Finally, seals and cetaceans are back on the coast between Bray-Dunes (Nord) and Mers-les-Bains (Somme). Associations count almost 600 pinnipeds, which have been gradually reestablishing themselves since the late 1980s. They had deserted the Côte d'Opale in the early 20th century, where they were hunted for their fat and skin. Sea calves and grey seals can be seen mainly on the Picardy coast, in the Bay of the Somme and near Berck-sur-Mer. Off the coast of Dunkirk, a sandbank can be seen at low tide: the banc des phoques. A privileged resting place for mothers and pups.
A flora that is often abundant, but sometimes fragile
The coastal dune is a fragile natural environment, rich in various flowering plants - but be careful not to pick them! It's a whole ecosystem that can be quickly disrupted by individual picking over time. Simply touch with your eyes.
During your walk, you'll be able to appreciate many flowers, plants and shrubs, such as oyat, sea buckthorn, daisy, dune pansy, gorse that blooms in winter... Some grow in summer, winter or all year round. Some, like dune pansy, are protected. In addition, four species growing in the region are covered by a national conservation plan: loesel's liparis, marsh parnassia, bitter gentian and stunted bedstraw.
To admire the diversity of the Côte d'Opale's flora and fauna, nature reserves cover a large part of the territory. The Platier d'Oye nature reserve at Oye-Plage, between Dunkirk and Calais, is the primary feeding ground for migratory birds on the Channel and North Sea coasts. Further afield, the Dune Marchand national nature reserve between Zuydcoote and Leffrinckoucke is home to some 600 plant species. Take the opportunity to hike in the Caps et Marais d'Opale regional park, bordered by the towns of Calais, Saint-Omer, Boulogne-sur-Mer and Étaples.
Following the coastline further south, stop off at the 505-hectare Baie de Canche nature reserve, then continue on to the Baie de Somme national nature reserve located northwest of the Baie de Somme at the tip of Saint-Quentin-en-Tourmont. It's home to France's largest colony of seal calves, as well as numerous bird species, which can be admired at the Parc du Marquenterre, home to over 300 species of migratory birds.
Finally, further inland, you can go hiking at Mont Pelé and Mont Hulin. Located near Desvres, the site is a former marl chalk quarry, where the extraction pits can still be seen. The site, with its remarkable flora, is part of the complex of hillsides of the southern cuesta of the Boulonnais region, and its open areas are grazed by Boulonnais sheep and Highland cows.
