Holm oak or yeuse (Quercus ilex)

Marker 12Forest fires and felling for firewood and charcoal have usually kept holm-oak stands to a modest size. It is therefore rare to see such handsome trunks. These trees would also have been pruned for many years: their leaves were fed to livestock during droughts. Until the 18th century, some groves were used as pasture land (acorns) for pigs, sheep and goats. Like all uniform environments, these groves are rather low in animal species. But you can still see a whole procession of birds: the blue tit and great tit, western Bonelli’s warbler, jay, song thrush, blackbird, robin, wren, etc.