A natural area


A distinctive landscape

The French Vexin is a large limestone plateau covered with sline. It dominates surrounding regions and is clearly delimited by large valleys. A double line of wooded mounds crossed by contrasted erosion induced valleys characterises its surface.

There are three types of original and biologically rich environments : lawns and fallow lands on dry hillsides, damp areas including marshes and meadows at the bottom of the valleys, woods and moors. This combination of various environments results from a thousand years of harmony between nature and human labour. It lies on a breakable balance. Its protection is one of the objectives of the Park.



Limestone hillsides

Hillsides are covered with limestone grasslands. Numerous rare vegetable species grow there, some of them originating from the Mediterranean region. The wildlife is particularly interesting for its insects and reptiles. Slopes along the river Seine are one of the finest parts of the Park : more than 470 species of plants and numerous insects may be observed. The loops around Guernes and Moisson shelter a large range of migratory or sedentary birds.
Up to the 20th of the century, they were widely used for pasture, vineyards and orchards. The only witnesses of this old farming activity are the terrasses, the apparition of wooded areas threatening the biodiversity of the flora and wildlife. An environmental safeguard project is therefore being implemented. That is why a part of this exceptional site, full of floral and faunal interest, has been incorporated in the European Natura 2000 network and is to be made a Nature Reserve.



Wetlands

Damp meadows, and alkaline and reed marshes spread at the bottom of the valleys. These fragile environments are true reserves in biodiversity and play an important part in the natural regulation of water flows. Numerous rare birds, insects and batrachians breed and shelter there. The slopes of the mounds are covered with damp and peaty moors and offer specific flora. The preservations of these wetlands are therefore a priority in the Park’s actions.



Woods and forests

Woods and forests cover about 15% of the Park’s surface.The vaster wooded areas spread on the mounds of Arthies, Rosne and Marines and on the plateaux at the back of the Vexin hillside. The most frequent species are oaks, birches, chestnut trees and hornbeams.



A farming region

The French Vexin has always been devoted to agriculture. This activity represents about 70% of the Park’s surface and 8% of its active population with about 400 farms predominantly farmed with cereals. Breeding is more developed in the valleys and mounds’ areas but it only accounts for 20% of the farms together with all specialised farms. The Park’s goals are to support these minorities and encourage farmers to develop environmentally friendly methods.