Magazine nature

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

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

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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

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

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

‘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

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

Raising awareness of tourism dangers for cuddly French Alpine marmots

The main message is do not feed them as it interferes with their natural development

Salamanders and singing toads in France

Nature lover, Jonathan Kemp, spots a rich variety of species in his local environment

Protected forest cats come back from the brink of extinction in France

A boost in biodiversity is credited as a reason for the forest cats’ return

Gardeners in France told to stop cutting hedges in bird nesting season

Bird experts share the best time to trim hedging in the north and south of France

Health warning with France in peak period for dangerous caterpillars

‘Processionary’ caterpillars can cause severe skin and throat reactions, blisters, conjunctivitis, and asthma attacks

The turtle hospital rescuing Loggerheads injured on French shores

France’s Mediterranean beaches may become future breeding grounds for sea turtles but they are at risk of injury - from humans

The genet - a rarely seen carnivore is at home in French woodland

Nature expert, Jonathan Kemp, on his chance encounters with a nocturnal hunter

Electric ants, hornets: The battle against invasive species in France

The electric ant which has a painful bite was first detected in France last summer. Experts are now racing against the clock to stop the spread

Crisis unit set up as parasite ravages pine trees in south of France

The 3-6mm long insect has already killed tens of thousands of trees, and there is no killer product yet approved for use

Oiseaux de France goes digital to keep tabs on declining species

The organisation hopes this will help them spot avian trends quicker

Join a bird protection group in France and continue historic tradition

Nature watcher Jonathan Kemp shares the origins of bird conservation and the magic of migration

Snowdrops for hope and salvia for colour in a February French garden

We look at propagating and pruning sage and how to buy reliable snowdrops in France

Count birds in your garden in France this weekend to help researchers

The twice-annual counts are in their 11th year and offer major assistance to bird scientists

Petition to change law to help hedgehogs survive in France gains pace

The expert behind it claims urgent action is required or the species will be almost extinct in France within a few years

January flowers in your French garden with scented viburnum

We explore the shrub that gives long-lasting winter displays and the importance of Latin names

Mediterranean garden in south of France is a winter paradise

When most gardens lie dormant, the Domaine du Rayol comes to life in the winter months

Tails of the riverbank: French beavers are back

The animals were almost extinct in the middle of the last century but can now be spotted on 16,000km of French waterway in 50 departments

Kingfisher family’s ‘busy blue sparks’ seen everyday on French stream

Nature watcher, Jonathan Kemp, marvels at the habits of kingfishers near his Aude home and explains why they are blue

Largest nature photography festival in Europe celebrates 25 years

The annual Montier Photo Festival, outside Troyes, was started by a ‘bunch of mates’ – this year 2,500 images of the natural world are on display

'Travelling with my cats taught me so much': France according to cats

American cat lover Teresa Kaufman enjoys countryside walks and has spent 18 years travelling the country with her two cats

‘Monster’ cannibal fish in French rivers, but no threat to humans

The huge catfish called ‘silures’ can grow to 2m long - scientists want more studies on this edible, prehistoric throwback

Nature watch in France: identify doves and how to help injured birds

Wildlife spotter Jonathan Kemp shares his bird watching skills and how he helped a Nightjar in distress

Beaver spotted in Loire-Atlantique for first time since 16th century

Previously killed for medicine and perfume, the beaver population is recovering from near extinction in France

Watch out for hedgehogs when clearing overgrowth in your French garden

People doing work in their gardens this summer are warned to take care and watch out for animals such as hedgehogs and weasels, to avoid injuring or killing them

Help bees - grow their favourite colour flowers in your French garden

Bees are vital for crop pollination and the ecosystem and yes they do have a favourite colour

Blue tits and goats are French city’s secret weapons against invaders

Nancy is running natural experiments to combat processionary caterpillars and Japanese knotweed

Song birds in France and how to recognise their tune

Bird watcher Jonathan Kemp offers tips on spotting species by their song

Wolf identified in southeast Vienne is first in a century

Wolves have not been seen locally for almost 100 years. Sheep farmers say the reappearance is bad news.

Hidden cameras and DNA from fur confirm wildcats return in the Tarn

But Nature en Occitanie calls for domestic cat owners to sterilise their pets before interbreeding threatens the new wildcat population

Nature watch: rescue vulture released in France, brown bear too ‘tame’

Wildlife spotter, Jonathan Kemp, shares the nature around his home in Aude and a disturbing encounter with a young brown bear

Enjoy wildlife spotting in your French garden as spring becomes summer

Nature spotter, Jonathan Kemp, slows down to appreciate the nesting, hatching and feeding this time of year near his Aude home

Brown bear numbers growing in French Pyrenees after reintroduction

Record numbers of cubs were born last year thanks to a state-backed repopulation project, but illegal hunting and claims of broken promises from the French government are a threat

Wildlife experts have spotted golden jackals for first time in France

While jackals do not venture into towns, farmers are warned to protect small or newborn livestock - we describe how to identify one of France’s newest species

Video: Wild wolf spotted in Brittany for first time in 109 years

The predators returned to France in the early 1990s and have slowly been spreading out around the country

Spring nature spotting in France: clues animals and birds leave behind

Jonathan Kemp updates us on his nature spotting with badger, heron and vulture sightings, plus evidence of a gruesome ambush on a Red Kite

‘Our hives protect bees’: alternative way of beekeeping made in France

Creators say that their specially designed hives lead to stronger colonies

Gardening in France: Dahlias stir poetry and emotion

Growing these bright flowers may be challenging but some tricks can make the process much easier, explains gardening writer Cathy Thompson

Versatile and ecologically sound: Hemp production increases in France

This extraordinary plant can be used in many industries, from medicine to construction

‘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

Call for volunteers to help thousands of toads cross busy French road

The toads risk their lives every year by attempting to cross so as to reach their spring mating ground

French beekeepers experiment with indoor hives in bid to save bees

Bee colonies are heavily impacted by parasites and are struggling to survive warmer winters. A retired scientist and former professional beekeeper is trying keeping them inside

‘Sex traps’ can control Asian hornets, new French-Chinese study shows

The pheromone-laced traps can successfully capture males and reduce the number of future hornet queens. The hornets are a significant threat to bees and biodiversity

Birdwatcher’s guide to France: Nature reserves, parks and trails

Explore the country’s best landscapes for watching pink flamingos, birds of prey or even migrating birds, as well as information centres and exhibitions

Sea eagles to be released over Lake Geneva after 130-year absence

Six of the birds, which are among the largest species in Europe, will be let out in June and July this year

Mimosas blossom in south of France as season begins

The bright, highly-scented trees bloom from January until the end of March, and are prized in the Alpes-Maritimes and Var for everything from perfume to candles to chocolate

Diary of a birdwatcher in France: Migration

Jonathan Kemp describes his magical recent trip to the Netherlands, where the sight of migratory birds got him thinking about explanations behind the mysterious phenomenon

Brittany town permanently closes road so toads and frogs can cross

Eleven threatened species of amphibians have been identified in the area and cross to reach nearby ponds to mate

Diary of a birdwatcher in France: The common buzzard

Jonathan Kemp recounts his somewhat painful experience of trying to rescue an injured buzzard that he found at the side of a road

Diary of a birdwatcher in France: The Egyptian vulture

Jonathan Kemp explains how he was witness to some extraordinary behaviour by the smallest of the four vulture species found in Europe

Escaped parakeets in France lead to flock of 8,000

A flock of around 50 birds, destined for pet shops, escaped from a Paris airport in the 1970s and a similar escape happened in 1994. The two have interbred

Diary of a birdwatcher in France: The capture of 33 griffon vultures

Ten griffon vultures in Occitanie have been equipped with tracking equipment, so that experts can gather more information on the huge birds. Jonathan Kemp was part of the equipping operation, which involved temporarily trapping 33 birds, and explains why it is important