Esneux Wood Quarry

This vast sandstone quarry, opened in the late 19th century and still in operation during the 2000s, is located on the left side of the Ourthe valley between Poulseur and Esneux, within a large forest massif, the Bois d'Esneux. Famenne sandstones were exploited here. The extraction pit measures nearly 500 m in length and a maximum depth of 80 m. A wall seep causes the formation of a small stream, pools, and ponds at the bottom of the quarry. The site has significant biological interest: there are extensive spoil heaps colonized by a rubble vegetation of round-leaved sorrel (Rumex scutatus) and lance-leaved willowherb (Epilobium lanceolatum), elements of pioneer grassland with white stonecrop (Sedum album) and reflected stonecrop (Sedum rupestre), a cliff with ciliate melica (Melica ciliata), dry and wet fallow land, temporary ponds, etc. The reproduction of the midwife toad (Alytes obstetricans) and the wall lizard (Podarcis muralis) has been reported, as well as at least episodic presence of the Eurasian eagle-owl (Bubo bubo).

Public access: Unknown
Type: Site of Great Biological Interest (SGIB)

La biodiversité en Wallonie