Wood of the Basse Marlagne (south)

The Bois de la Basse Marlagne, along with the neighboring Bois de la Vecquée, is a remnant of the Forêt de la Marlagne, which once extended over a large portion of the territory between Namur, Bois-de-Villers, and Sart-Saint-Laurent. The massif is now split in two by the road of Bois-de-Villers, lined throughout its length by villas surrounded by tree-lined gardens. Occupying the left slope of the Meuse valley, the southern part of the wood has been more affected by urbanization, with the entire site being surrounded by roads and housing. Furthermore, several large properties are located there, including the Mélot Castle which stands on the edge of a clearing. The wood is nonetheless in contact with the forested slope of the Citadel of Namur, at the locality Tienne Hola. It consists of beautiful stands of beech and oak trees, from neutral to acidophilic species, under which various plants grow, such as wood rush (Luzula sylvatica) and holly (Ilex aquifolium), perennial mercury (Mercurialis perennis), sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum), and the wood anemone (Anemone nemorosa), which indicates the antiquity of the forests. The faunistic interest has been very poorly documented to date. The black woodpecker (Dryocopus martius) and the middle spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopos medius) are regularly observed and likely nesting. The eastern part of the wood is included in the Natura 2000 site BE35004 "Meuse Valley from Dave to Marche-les-Dames".

Type: Site of Great Biological Interest (SGIB)

La biodiversité en Wallonie