Manila

Located in Hesbaye, on the west periphery of Gembloux, the site includes on one hand the wetland of the Poncia springs, a small tributary of the Orneau, and on the other hand the clay pit and the partially infilled grounds of the former Grand-Manil brickyard. An amazing mosaic of herbaceous and wooded environments can be found here, which is of great importance in the context of the municipal ecological network: reed beds, sedge beds, wet meadows, alder swamps, willow stands, ponds, temporary and permanent pools, clay-sandy slopes, wastelands, etc. Various interesting species of rare plants and animals can be observed here. The clay pit is home to a significant population of burrowing Hymenoptera, including the Andrena vaga and Colletes cunicularius bees.

Public access: Due to its major interest, the site deserves to be granted the status of natural reserve or at least that of ZHIB. A management plan should be established.
Type: Site of Great Biological Interest (SGIB)

La biodiversité en Wallonie