| |
 |
 |
| The Oasis of the Matildic Lands
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
On
the left:
Monte Fuso Reserve, near
Neviano degli Arduini;
LIPU Reserve of
Bianello, near Quattro Castella. |
|
|
The
oasis of the LIPU in Bianello
The Bianello oasis, instituted by the Province of Reggio Emilia
in 1982, lies at the feet of the hills near Quattro Castella
in the frame of the charming landscape of the four hills and
of the matildic fortifications (reduced to ruins except for
the imposing castle of Bianello). Even if it is not very wide
(a squared km), this oasis offers various landscapes, both natural
and artificial: the wood, the hedge, the meadow, the shrubs,
the garden, the pond, divided into other subvariants. A very
rich variety of vegetal essences is also present, and between
them there are also some rare herbs protected by a regional
law, and twelve sorts of orchids.
Some interesting trees are also rising here: the turkish oak
and the cerrs, the hornbeams, the manna ash, two sorts of maples,
a savage cherry, the sorb tree and, introduced by men, the chestnut
and the walnut. The national association for the protection
of the birds (LIPU) and the University of Parma have signalled
here the presence of predatory nightbirds like the barn owls
and the owls; or some predatory daily birds like the buzzard,
the kestrel and, more rarely, the dark kite and the sparrow
hawk, the ash grey herons and many varieties of birds liking
pools like the ruddy sheldrake, the pullet and a rare variety
of sparrow.
The oriented natural park of the "Rupe
di Campotrera"
Recently recognized between the protected regional areas, the
Campotrera Park (Municipality of Canossa, region of Reggio Emilia),
presents a remarkable botanic interest. The soil, constituted
by some lavic materials (a reddish ophiolyte from which comes
the name of the castle of Rossena) influences strongly the herbaceal
vegetation, determining the raising of some very rare varieties,
a real, precious "botanic natural garden". The warmth
of the sun, hold by the rocks and slowly released, allows the
growth of some vegetal varieties, like the dwarf prickly pear
nano (Opuentia), that could not otherwise survive at these latitudes.
The interest of Campotrera lies also in the geologic aspect:
it is a terrific vertical complex, extremly impressive, that
preserved the original 'pillow' structure because of the magmatic
emission in underwater surroundings. Another important vulcanic
ophiolyte lies in the valley of Vedriano, not far from here,
known with the name of Pietra nera. The landscape is well preserved
and not polluted and there's a rich variety of animals. Some
clear springs host rare species like the goby and the freshwater
crayfish.
The Monte Fuso oasis
Situated on the village of Scurano, in the Municipality of Neviano
degli Arduini, in the region of Parma, this area includes the
territories of Tizzano and Palanzano, for a comprehensive extension
of more than two tousand hectars. One of its most impressive
parts is the faunistic enclosure of the Lavacchio mountain,
where you can see closely deers, roebucks and mufflons. The
park is provided with some useful facilities, like a parking
place, toys for children, pic-nic areas. For the organization
of didactic activities or guided tours, address the secretary
of the Touristic centre at the telephone +39 0521840151.
Many walks are possible starting from the centre: walking close
to the enclosure of the ungulates (2,5 km long) it is possible,
with the help of a guide, to enter some organized areas and
observe the flowers, the animals, the landscape.
The Frignano park
The Frignano Park, a Park of the higher Apennines in the region
of Modena, includes as well, in its western part, some territories
belonging to the municipality of Frassinoro. Its charming landscape
is dominated by impressive emergences of sandy stone (so called
Macigno), interrupted by marble and loamy stones. The vegetal
environment of the ridge is characterised by the diffusion of
dwarf shrubs (heaths and blueberries), by large meadows, humid
areas. There are evident glacial residuals, circles and remarkable
morainic cords originating lakes, fascinating wells and peat-moors.
At lower altitudes you can find beech woods with artificial
plantings fir-trees and spruce-trees. Lower you find oak woods
and chestnuts. For what concerns the animals we have to underlne
the interset of the coming-back of the woolf, the good acclimatation
of the marmots, introduced recently by men. You can easily perceive,
in the clear sky, the unmistakable profile of the eagle. You
can easily enter the park through the village of Piandelagotti,
equipped for sky, where you can park your cars and begin your
excursions.
The Torrazzuolo oasis
This special area for the ecologic balancing has been introduced
in 1995 by the Municipality of Nonantola near the confluence
of the Canal Torbido and of the Fossa Bosca. It is a large area
of 70 hectars including a humid region, some reforestations
and meadows areas. The humid region, of 20 hectars, is equipped
with two huts expecially conceived for ornithologic observation
and didactic activities. The rest of the woodland area is the
result of some reforestation plantations of autochtonous trees
on the land that used to belong to the historical Wood of the
Partecipanza. The ash trees , the dittanies, the maples, the
poplars and all the other trees that have been planted in 1985
have created the largest wood of all the modenese plain. You
can easily observe different varieties of birds: garganey ducks,
teals, sheldrakes, red herons, ash airons, egrets, owls, ruffs,
piro piros, grebes, pochards, bittern, king fishers and others.
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
