Cléden-Poher forest

Located in the municipality of the same name in France, the Cléden-Poher forest is in Finistère in Brittany and grows on loamy soil. The larch high forest, which was no longer being maintained prior to our takeover of management, was in poor condition.
As a result, we planted various species there, adapted to the soil and geological conditions as well as the abundant rainfall (960 mm/year) of the area. The forest is located in a deep valley formed by wooded corridors and floodable meadows on either side of the meanders of the Aulne river and its adjacent valleys and tributaries. The Aulne river, which flows through a small part of the forest, is a preservation zone for three species, including the European otter. To preserve its habitat, it is necessary to protect the riparian vegetation, woodlands, alluvial forests, natural meadows and the network of hedgerows in all the wetlands. To safeguard salmon populations, attention must be paid to riverbeds and banks, the restoration of spawning grounds and improvement of water quality.
Furthermore, the Aulne river is also covered by a Natura 2000 habitats directive, as a river with water crowfoot. It is also a site of major interest for the breeding and hibernation of the greater horseshoe bat, and is home to the largest breeding population of Atlantic salmon in France.

This larch forest underwent a clear-cut in the past. We carried out plantations there in 2020. The soil was tilled beforehand, which greatly facilitated the growth of Douglas fir, chestnut, beech, red oak, silver fir, cedar and Sitka spruce seedlings. They were all cleared of competing flora during the summer, and a beating up operation was carried out in December 2020, followed by an application of Trico (a natural repellent) to protect the seedlings. “Beating up" is a forestry term which refers to the replacement of newly planted trees which have died. Even with the best planting and management, a percentage of trees will not survive the first season.
In 2022, a clearing of the 2020 plantations was performed. In 2023, an inter-row mulching will be carried out. This forestry operation involves clearing the spaces between the planting lines in order to slow the development of competing vegetation.

Our team responsible for biodiversity preservation ensures compliance with the Natura 2000 zone and studies the possibility of future actions or initiatives to ensure that this rich forest remains a haven for as many common and rare species as possible.