The Forest of Briord

Located in the natural region of the Vendée bocage, it benefits from the following local climatic characteristics: An annual rainfall of about 700 mm An average temperature of 12°C The climate is generally mild owing to the proximity of the Atlantic Ocean, about 25 kilometres away. Snowfall is rare. The Briord estate adjoins sites remarkable for their birdlife and for the species associated with wetlands in particular. The woods therefore play a fundamental role in the balance between habitats and their associated species. The main tree species making up the forest of Briord The oak, of course, some specimens of which are contemporaries of the château or even older. The oak is very well suited to the massif, notably within the perimeter of the Senier wood, near the château. The soil suits the development of the species, though the evolution of the presence of iron oxide — a natural geological component that could lead to a reddening of the wood — must be watched closely. The beech, very present notably in the parcels bordering the château's avenue, gives good results but remains a minority in the massif. It is rather poorly suited to the area. The chestnut is particularly vigorous throughout the estate, though with disparities in growth and potential according to the sectors of the forest massif. Growth as high forest suits it very well, in each coppice parcel. The Corsican laricio pine, planted very long ago, completes the composition of the forest of Briord. Hornbeams may be observed in a few stands of high forest. As part of the Terre de Briord restoration and preservation project, particular attention is paid to the forest. Beyond being the living witness of the successive eras the estate has crossed, it constitutes the principal protection of the animal and plant species that make up the exceptional biodiversity of the place. Within an ambitious hundred-year strategy, a vast plan of natural preservation is under study. This Forest Management Plan is drawn up in consultation with, and with the advisory support of, a forestry expert. In time, several thousand trees, corresponding to the historic species of the Land of Briord, will be planted to guarantee the regeneration, and thus the durability, of this extraordinary historic natural environment.