Pond Restoration at the Nouzilly Site

Most of the ponds on the estate were surrounded by very dense tree and shrub vegetation. This growth was progressively invading the ponds, causing significant accumulation of leaves and branches in the water and blocking out sunlight. Without intervention, these ponds faced "infilling" (complete closure), which would lead to the disappearance of flora and fauna typical of wetlands. Restoration was therefore essential to preserve the biodiversity they shelter.

A Collaborative Educational Partnership

At the Vendôme "Agrocampus des 2 vallées" Vocational and Technological High School, students enrolled in the Natural Environments and Wildlife Management (GMNF) program learn to restore ecosystems as part of their curriculum. Under the supervision of their teachers, theoretical learning is put into practice through hands-on fieldwork.

We established a partnership with this high school to restore four ponds at the Nouzilly site. This collaboration allowed us to benefit from the technical expertise of the teachers and students, while providing the students with a high-quality field site for their practical training.

Timeline and Actions

We selected four ponds that were nearly closed off by vegetation, all located on the same plot to facilitate the supervision of the four student groups.

• November 2024: A diagnostic day was held by students and teachers to define the necessary actions.
• December 2024: The restoration took place during this period to minimize disturbances to local wildlife.
• March 2025: A review day was held to present the results to INRAE staff.

The restoration work included:

• Selective Thinning: Felling large trees while leaving one or two "standard" trees to provide perches and nesting sites for birds.C
• Clearing: Removing saplings, shrubs, and brambles.
• Vegetation Management: Opening the herbaceous layer while leaving vegetation on one-quarter of the pond to provide cover for wildlife.
• Pollinator Support: Preserving nectar-producing plants.
• Cleaning: Removing dead wood and decaying leaves from the water.
• Habitat Creation: Building dry hedges (dead hedges) from the woody debris to create new micro-habitats.
• Animal Welfare: The uprooted saplings were replanted in a horse pasture to provide natural shade and improve animal well-being.

Conclusion

This project successfully preserved our ponds and their biodiversity, initiated a long-term collaboration with a local high school, and fostered interaction with members of civil society who will be the future stakeholders of the agricultural world. It represents a highly positive environmental and societal impact.