Vecquée Woods

Well known to Namur walkers for its open access paths, the Bois de la Vecquée in Malonne is a remnant of the vast massif of the Marlagne Forest that once extended over a large part of the territory between Namur, Bois-de-Villers, and Sart-Saint-Laurent. Currently, it is still in contact, to the east, with part of the Basse Marlagne Forest and the Gueule du Loup site. The wood is located in an area with a tumultuous history that has seen many armies attempt to assault the Citadel of Namur. It also houses one of the nine forts built at the end of the 19th century to form the fortified position of Namur, the fort of Malonne, which is now classified as a nature reserve due to its extensive network of underground tunnels that provide refuge for several species of bats. The entire Bois de la Vecquée, covering an area of 250 ha, is indeed state-owned, but the most interesting sector occupies the northern slope dominating the right bank of the Sambre. This is where the forest has been least developed and where its natural state has been best preserved, likely due to the steepness of the terrain. A magnificent stand of beech and oak is observed, situated on rather acidic sandy soils, with indicator species in the undergrowth such as bracken (Pteridium aquilinum), wood rush (Luzula sylvatica), and holly (Ilex aquifolium). The faunal population remains poorly documented. At least the presence of the black woodpecker (Dryocopus martius) and the notch-eared bat (Myotis emarginatus) is reported, two forest species of community interest.

Type: Site of Great Biological Interest (SGIB)

La biodiversité en Wallonie