Flora and ecosystem

Spring and Autumn are for nature, the two privileged periods in the counties of Lozere and Aveyron. In the spring, it is a multicoloured explosion on the causses and in the valleys.

The floral heritage is exceptional here. Many wild orchids start appearing from the month of may, including two endemic ones, the "aveyronensys" and the "proutprout aveproutoruto" orchids attract enthusiasts and experts worldwide to photograph them.

The Cevennes National Park experts even add : "Out of the 400 protected species of the french flora, 35 live on the National Park territory (Martagon lily, spring adonis, orchids...). The Park particularly watches over the preservation of 21 "endemic" species, that is to say unique in the world, and of about a hundred rare or threatened plants. A great number of the latter depends on the maintenance of open environments (grassed areas, moors, meadows and courses) insured by pastoralism."

" The richness of its flora (2650 species) is encouraged by the diversity of climates (oceanic, continental and Mediterranean), by the chemical composition of the soils (granite, chalky and schistose) and by the diversity of altitudes (from 378 to 1699 m.), very favourable under our altitudes, to the expression of life under all its forms." " The asylvatic level (1500/1700m), mainly present on the Lozère mount, is particularly interesting (subalpine grass of the north, forage and fescue). It provides a habitat for peat moss bogs, with water clovers, marsh "populage", linaigrette, cranberry, et above all the famous drosera (carnivorous plant)".

Autumn and spring are therefore, under our altitudes, a real pastoral symphony, and it is in the environment of a wild nature, diverse and preserved, that the walker is lucky to be able to freely move around.

The respect of fragile and unique ecosystems classified Natura 2000 by the Cevennes Natural Park, is the guarantee of this unique heritage survival.

All of the above information and many more can be found on the Cevennes National Park website, with their kind authorisation.