Magazine nature

Five ‘notorious green alien’ invasive plants you can find within France

Learn about five invasive plants, including Japanese knotweed, ragweed and pokeweed, and how they threaten native ecosystems

Spotting moths in France, in all their superb variety

Learn how to identify moths, from antennae and wing positions to the giant peacock moth, and why these night pollinators matter in nature

New life springs in Aude among 2025 wildfire carnage

A year after the devastating Ribaute wildfire, wildlife and plants are returning as experts study Corbières ecosystem recovery

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Bay of Seine scallop catch reaches record levels

However, observers stress the importance of remaining vigilant in the face of natural population fluctuations and the effects of climate change

10 wildlife excursions to try in France

From the Alps to the Riviera, here is our pick of where to watch for wolves, birds, bears and other beasts

Best British nature writing: nightingales, peregrines and other bird books to read

Explore classic bird literature and why it still inspires readers and birders today

Discover Aude's wild beauty on a botanist-led donkey trek

Jonathan Kemp shares his experience of trekking through the Corbières mountains to explore nature's wonders and local historical sites

European otter spotted in Hérault points to biodiversity boost and cleaner waters

Scientists say the rare sighting highlights healthier rivers and wetlands in Occitanie

Orphaned lynx released into the wild in Jura to boost fragile population

Animal has been released into the wild after rehabilitation by Centre Athénas

How to identify birdsong in France: robins, blackbirds, thrushes and tits

Discover when birds start singing and the key calls to listen for

Global light pollution rises but falls sharply in France, study finds

Findings highlight the impact of French street lighting policies on biodiversity, sleep and energy use

How to identify mustelids in France: polecats, badgers, martens and weasels

A practical guide explaining key features, habitats and tracking signs to help spot these elusive animals

Couple sitting on precipice looking over mountains

France’s top hiking routes compared: from Corsica’s GR20 to the Pyrenees' GR10

Four readers share their standout experiences

'The magical day I saw an otter in my Aude garden'

Jonathan Kemp on the otter conservation efforts that have led to their return

Five invasive animal species living in France

Discover the impact of some arriviste species in France on biodiversity and ecosystems

France’s unique wildlife officers: 'our role is to intervene as a final resort'

Julien Nicolas fulfils a role created by Charlemagne in the year 803, tackling wildlife posing a danger to the public

France leads efforts to save critically endangered European mink from extinction

A reintroduction plan is in place to save the species, which is more threatened than the Giant Panda

All wrapped up for Christmas: how to protect your plants in France this winter

Discover effective methods to shield your garden plants from winter frost and cold, ensuring their survival and health through the chilly months

‘The first baby hedgehog we rescued was love-at-first-sight’

We speak to an expert about her hedgehog health centre and how to make your garden more hedgehog-friendly

How endangered Iberian ibex is thriving after French Pyrenees comeback

Species is booming after a successful reintroduction programme, enhancing biodiversity and ecosystem health

The decline of turtle doves and memories of summer birdwatching in France

The dramatic fall in turtle dove numbers due to Mediterranean hunting, plus discover the unique sounds of birds like the nightjar and bee-eater

Attention au chien! New map helps walkers avoid guard dogs in France

Discover how MapPatou helps hikers and joggers avoid potentially dangerous guard dogs

Discover the fascinating world of France's peregrine falcons and modern falconry

Explore the majestic bird's nesting habits and the evolution of falconry, from ancient traditions to modern-day racing and breeding practices

New climate school for Paris

First European school to offer a degree dedicated to the ecological transition

British woman in France sends rare Poitou donkey to US for conservation

The action marks a significant step in global preservation efforts

Nature in France: discover the fascinating world of insects

Explore the wonders of French nature with the extraordinary dung beetle, gazés and butterflies

Photos: discover this stunning super ‘dry’ French Occitanie garden

Cathy Thompson visits a garden in the Aude where layering, minimal watering and constant evolution are wonderfully combined

Photos: rare otters captured in south of France using nocturnal camera

Recolonisation and protection efforts are paying off in several regions around the country

Spotting storks and egrets in France

Jonathan Kemp observes some familiar birds at Le Domaine des Oiseaux nature reserve near Toulouse

France garden tips: try agapanthus, it is hardier than you think

The evergreen types are ideal for a Mediterranean climate, coming as they do from the western and eastern cape in South Africa

Fancy fowl and posing peacocks: observe the flamboyance of female birds in France

Jonathan Kemp explores the captivating courtship displays of birds, and explains how you can too

Lynx in France are under threat from poaching and road collisions

Animal protection centres are encouraging the public to report poaching in a strive to boost conservation efforts

Bonfire of the vineyards gathers pace in Bordeaux

Columnist Sue Adams explains why acres of vines are being taken up and burned in a wine-growing region

Mid-season filler flowers for your French garden

Test these colourful tips for replacing victims of winter rot or frost

Courtship or rivalry: experience avian mating season in France

Jonathan Kemp deciphers the flamboyant displays put on by birds

Killing wolves in France is ‘counterproductive’, say experts

Wolf sightings are on the rise but any killing of them remains a divisive issue

‘Peach walls’ of Paris suburb offer glimpse of its horticultural past

Montreuil may not be the obvious place to house orchards of Mediterranean fruit, but it has supported a booming industry and an unlikely man-made microclimate for nearly 400 years

Visit a Yorkshireman's French garden this May and June

‘I am organic to the core’ says the retired horticulturalist whose fine garden is not far from La Rochelle

White storks make strong return in France via nest ‘platforms’ and clipped wings

The Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux shares the conservation challenges in saving these birds from extinction

How birdwatchers are helping bring the black vulture back to south-west France

Plus, wildlife spotter, Jonathan Kemp, shares his experience of searching for bearded vultures around his home in Aude

Follow your nose on a scent-sational tour of France’s spring flowers

Explore the national and regional floral specialities of France, and sniff out the best flower festivals and horticultural events taking place around the country this spring

France's Loire Valley arboretum puts heather and magnolias in the spring spotlight

‘The forest is coming awake from its winter sleep... Life is coming back again in colour, scent and sound’

Gardening in France: get set to be dazzled by dahlias

March is the perfect time to plant these sun-loving tubers

Explore the gardens behind Monet's colourful lily creations

Visitors to Latour-Marliac gardens can see nearly 300 varieties of water lily growing in one hectare of pools, some of which are the original, restored basins from the 19th Century

Tips for taking great wildlife photos in France

Columnist Jonathan Kemp takes advice from his photographer friend on the best practices

Explore the spectacular natural amphitheatres of France

Hewn from rock in a variety of circular forms, these natural amphitheatres are worthy of a visit

All aboard! Visit the untouched beauty of the Cevennes by French steam train

Wild swimming, donkeys, bamboo parks, and more gems of the secluded Cevennes National Park

split image of a wolf and a map of their presence in France in 2022

MAP: Wolves have returned to most French departments

Gironde is the latest department to confirm the presence of the animal after a century of absence

Photos: Up to 200 deer emerge from morning fog in France

‘Their eyes are like radars. They spotted me long before I saw them,’ said the amateur wildlife photographer who captured the scene

France's first national park is an outdoor haven

Discover the breathtaking landscapes and rich biodiversity of Parc National de la Vanoise, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region

France celebrates a century of naturism

Marseille exhibition lays bare the continuing allure of French naturist culture

France's most ancient oak tree and its two chapels face potential collapse

The 1,200-year-old Chêne d’Allouville, housing two unique chapels, urgently requires preservation efforts

I fell in love with wild, beautiful Cévennes in south-central France

Award-winning US poet Zaro Weil on why this remote part of France is a major inspiration for her work

Letters: Biodiversity is in decline, but not just in France

Reader says the complex systems of weather, migration and global economics all play a part

four-way split photo of Open Gardens to visit in France

Photos: Three seasonal autumn gardens to visit in France

Summer may be over but there are beautiful places to admire under the Open Gardens scheme

Shepherd defends role of patou dogs after hiker calls for rescue

Wolves are not the problem - tourists need to respect nature, says shepherd Raymond Riera

A view of a runner in impressive mountain scenery in France

How trail running has boomed in popularity in France

More than a million people are now thought to take part in the organised off-road runs each year - but some say the rise is damaging the sport

French communes share studies of local flora and fauna with residents

Town in Brittany is the latest to publish its communal biodiversity atlas

Letters: Why must French farmers chop, poison and destroy nature?

Connexion reader says that he has seen biodiversity plummet in the past decade

The big difference between keeping bees in France and the UK

Sue Adams explores the contrasting approaches of French and British beekeepers

INPN Espèces app, upload images of plants and wildlife and use the Geocaching app to turn walks into treasure hunts

Seven essential apps hikers must have in France

From identifying the local flora and fauna, to ensuring you know your route, we highlight six top apps for hikers taking to French trails this spring

Medieval long bridge over a river showing low water level, inset map of water tables in France for April 2024

MAP: which areas in France already have water shortages?

Water reserves are above average in some areas due to heavy autumn rainfall but some areas have shortages

Book shows how to cook with the weed black bryony in south-west France

‘It’s a local speciality with a taste like nothing else,’ says mayor who published recipe book

Meet France's great garden acrobat

With its bright yellow and blue plumage, the Eurasian blue tit is easy to spot in the garden.

Spring into plant swap season and visit a local French ‘TrocPlantes’

Columnist Sarah Beattie discovers the community spirit of swap events where gardeners exchange cuttings

French town overrun by rabbits puts up posters of… rabbit stew recipe

The recipe is being shown on digital billboards after residents began complaining of burgeoning bunnies

Open Gardens France: Vibrant borders and crisp hedges in Mayenne

After two years clearing rubbish and brambles, Edward Moss and David Marsh delight in sharing their ‘garden rooms’

Otters make a comeback in France - how you can help them thrive

The recolonisation project is slowly working but the population remains fragile

A yellow-legged gull eats a rodent on the roof of a car in Marseille

‘Hyper-aggressive' seabirds force Marseille to take action

Some say the gulls ‘represent the city’ but authorities now have permission to act to reduce their number

Secret lives of bats in France: Garonne river is a motorway and buffet

We learn about the only mammal that can fly and how they use aerial landmarks to hunt

A split image of a (clockwise from top left) green-winged teal, sandhill crane, European pied flycatcher, and a bluethroat

Migratory birds you may see overhead or stopping off in France

Large, small, white, black or brightly-coloured - here are six species of birds you may spot as they make their journeys

How to build a snake hotel in your French garden as population falls

Jonathan Kemp makes snakes welcome in his garden in spite of his phobia

13 tree fairs and arboretums across France to visit this November

No matter where you live, there are events, exhibitions and markets centred around the cultivation of trees - we have listed several for your diary

French wildlife charity to turn hunting enclosure into nature reserve

The deer and wild boar were bred to be shot by hunters but will now live out their days on the property

Lynx spotting adventure gives hope to reintroduction scheme in France

The dazzling spectacle of a prowling Iberian lynx is thanks to one of Europe’s most successful conservation programmes