Melrand forest

The Melrand forest is located in the Morbihan department in Brittany. It is crossed to the south by the Brandifrout, a tributary stream of the right bank of the Blavet river, which is nationally recognised, and home to a large population of wild fish: river trout (Salmo trutta fario) and its accompanying species (European bullhead, stone loach, minnow), as well as migratory species such as European eel (Anguilla anguilla) and salmon (Salmo).
Prior to our purchase in 2017, the majority of the plots were former farmlands. We planted them with tree species suited to the climate and soil such as: Douglas fir, maritime pine, red oak, poplar and Sitka spruce. These planted trees will be managed in an irregular high-forest, following the principles of continuous cover forestry.

Between 2017 and 2020, we planted Douglas firs, maritime pines, Sitka spruces, red oaks and poplars on just over 14 hectares of land.
In 2021, a clearing was carried out on the maritime pines that were planted the previous year. The rest of the plantations, which were planted in previous seasons, are growing well and are free of the surrounding competing vegetation.
By 2022, all the plantations were thriving and meeting their objectives. In 2023, inter-row mulching was done to clear the younger plants from competing vegetation.

Nearly four hectares of land are dedicated to increase the biodiversity potential of the Melrand forest and will therefore not be exploited. These areas consist of oak and chestnut embankments that we are preserving and to which we plan to introduce honey plants in the gaps. Some old trees are being kept as they are, along with tree stumps that harbor rich biodiversity, including numerous anthills.
In this sub-plot, several lepidopterans (butterflies and moths) have been recorded (cinnabor moth, marbled white, common red soldier beetle, ochlodes venata, etc) and the diversity of plants is also interesting: marsh pennywort, holly, ivy, gorse, fern, common pear tree, honeysuckle, beech etc.
There is also a waterlogged area and a wet meadow on either side of a stream. The waterlogged area seems to correspond to a swampy alder and willow grove, which is a fairly rare habitat, populated by alders and willows, azure damselflies, lepidopterans, greater tussock-sedge, wild angelica, marsh thistle, floating river water-crowfoot, etc.