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Oasi La Francesa has an extension of about 23 hectares, in the municipality of Carpi. It is completely artificial, but of great naturalistic interest, and it reproduces principally a swamp environment. Inside it, in addition to the lake of  8 hectares and with different depth levels, there are different environments, such as woods, marshes, clearings and lawns.
The present vegetation is the result of the spontaneous colonisation and of the reforestation activities to restore the natural conditions of lowland environments.

In the forest mixed with clearings, there are oaks (Quercus spp.), white hornbeams (Carpinus betulus), elms (Ulmus spp.), maple maples (Acer campestre), myrobalan (Prunus cerasifera), firs (Abies spp.), larches (Larix spp.), willows (Salix spp.), poplars (Populus spp.) and ashes (Fraxinus spp.)
Among the bushes, there are blackthorns (Prunus spinosa), hawthorns (Crataegus monogyna), Cornus sanguinea, rosehips (Rosa canina), il sambuco), elders (Sambucus nigra), alder buckthorns (Rhamnus frangula), privets (Ligustrum vulgare).
In the grassy area, it is possible to observe different ranunculus species (Ranunculus spp.), clematis (Clematis vitalba), wild tulips (Tulipa sylvestris), Muscari botryoides, hibiscus (Hibiscus spp.), chicory (Cichorium intybus), mugworts (Artemisia absinthium), salsifies (Scorzonera spp.), cardoons (Carduus spp.), myrtles (Vaccinium myrtillus).

The fauna is also rich and complex, thanks to the different habitats present here, which are developing continuously and rapidly. There are numerous invertebrate species of water animals and insects, such as  beetles, dragonflies, praying mantises, crickets and locusts, moths and butterflies, numerous amphibious and reptiles like common-, emerald- toads, tree-,green- frogs, grass snakes, some species of lizards and green lizards, freshwater turtles.  There are also mammals such as hedgehogs, European moles, hares and micromammals like hazelmice, shrews, wild mice, shrews, wild mice, voles and chiropteras.
Among the birds, there are common stilts, common teals, garganeys, wigeons, Northern pintails, white storks, larks, mallards, kestrels, buzzards, swamp hawks, sparrowhawks, minor harriers and royal harriers. The presence of ruins in the vicinities allows the nesting of nocturnal predatory birds such as barn owls, owls, common owls and  scops owls . It is possible to see chaffinchins, goldfinches, greenfinches, blackcaps, great tits, tilts, white and green woodpeckers, golden orioles, rare hoopoes  and hear their singing in open fields and small woods.
Inside the oasis there is a  sensorial path along which there are areas allowing the interaction with nature through the senses. Some of the stations are: simple vegetable garden (with aromatic-officinal plants and scented bushes); the touch garden (where it is possible to touch different natural materials, such as cortexes and soils, seeds, leaves, feathers and other natural finds); the hearing area (at the centre of the path, where it is possible to hear sounds which would not be possible to hear otherwise); the traces base  (where to study tracks and signs left by various animals); the nests’ area; the swamp; the mature wood with decomposing trunks; the orchard of lost flavours (with ancient cultivar of fruit plants); the area of ruins and the flowering field; the butterfly garden.
In addition, it is possible to rest at the visitors centre, which is completely in wood and built with the use of nontoxic substances for human beings and the environment; it is formed by a wide room used as didactic area which can be transformed into a naturalistic-didactic exhibition. A didactic open-air room has been realised to spread the knowledge of alternative energies and energy saving, but it can be also used by students to practice and to make astronomical observation during the night. Another educational structure is  Capanno di Avvistamento dell’avifauna, which is not so far away front the wet field, but the distance is sufficient to not disturb the birds.

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)