The state forest of Marchiennes
The state forest of Marchiennes covers 800 hectares.
It is the only national forest and the largest wooded area in the district of Douai but the second in the Scarpe-Escaut Regional Natural Park (PNR), after the forest of Raismes-Saint Amand les Eaux. It is managed by the National Forestry Office.
It is located on the territory of four municipalities: Marchiennes, Beuvry-la-Forêt, Tilloy-lez-Marchiennes, Bouvignies.
History
Property of Marchiennes Abbey until 1793 when it became state property.
This massif was completely destroyed during the First World War (rare are the trees over 90 years old).
Écology
The forest sits on a veneer of sand and silty sand 1.
Afforestation is mainly composed of pedunculate oak, hornbeam, maple trees, punctuated by stands of Scots pine.
The ecological characteristics of interest are recognized by a national inventory, a ZNIEFF type I - (no 007-13), which has no regulatory constraints. This ZNIEFF includes all the forest areas and its edges (1,320 ha). A procedure for modernizing the ZNIEFFs is underway.
Ponds are arranged. They allow the maintenance of water at periods favorable to the life of the Crested Newt.