This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.
This web site reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.
This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.
This web site reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.
Homepage > Learning Science through Nature > Geographical Areas
GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS
PICTURES
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Map | Map of the area. Th numbers indicate the various sections. In number 4 stands the hospital, where the old citadel used to be. Sainte-Croix garden is in number 6. |
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A \\\"rurban\\\" site | View from the top of the hill. Sheep graze in a natural area, just next to the city centre. Ther area is croosed by kilometers of path to let walkers and tourist enjoy a natural area. |
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Our pond... | The pond is part of Sainte-Croix garden. It recreates a sample of biodiversity and is used by students for their studies. |
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Coteaux de Vivegnis | Once covered with vines, then occupied by a coal mine in the 19th and 20th centuries, the site is nowadays a special green area. Herbaceous lands, used by sheep, coexist with orchards and woods. At the foot of the hill, headstones remind us that there used to be coal extraction wells on the location. Coal was evacuated by railways from the no-longer existing \"Vivegnis station\", on the other side of the railway. Vivegnis may mean \"old vines\". |
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Hawthorn | Hawthorne (crataegus) is a 2-4 metre shrub. Its leaves are small (5 cm max) and lobed. The aporia crataegi, or black-veined white, caterpillar dwells in it. This butterfly is common South of the Meuse, but very rare in Liège! Its white flowers are gathered, mixed with young leaves. They are odorous and attract foraging insects. The hawthorn produces pea-sized red fruits called \\\"haw\\\". These fruits have one stone (crataegus monogyna or or common hawthorn) or two (crataegus laevigata, with less indented leaves). Birds love it! The common hawthorn is common all over the hillside but is particularly visible at \\\"Ferme Fabry\\\" in hedges or separate bushes. The crataegus laevigata is much less common on the hillside. From the 18th century, many hedges have been planted, with several functions: Landscaping (separation) Windbreak Ground protection: anti erosion Water protection: buffer Shelter for many species that nest, feed or shelter there. It is a varied ecological niche: one can find there 10-20 types of bird, 10-20 types of mammals, hundreds of insect species, dozens of pollinating insects, spiders, reptiles... Wildlife corridor. In the 20th century, regrouping of lands, mechanization, productivism led to mass uprooting of hedges in the farming area, which reduced biodiversity, increased erosion due to streaming and wind and a change of landscape. The hawthorne is also used in pharmacy and cooking. |
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Spring crocus (crocus vernus) | Size: 5 to 20 cm. Blossoming: March to May. Life cycle: perrenial Habitat: meadows and clear woods. Flowers: 3-5 cm high, solitary, violet or white, linked to the bulb through a long white tube; yellow anthers, orangy red ramified style. Leaves: 2-4 very narrow leaves (under 1 cm large),crossed by a white ray, developing in particular after blossoming. Confusion: Safran from which the safran powder is drawn. Other uses: floral use. English synonym: Giant crocus Latin synonym: Crocus albiflorus (white-leaved) |
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Wood white | The wood white (leptidea sinapis), was sighted on the meadow of \"Ferme Fabry\", on the east of remarkable chestnuts. One specimen was foraging a bush vetch flower, in a small clearing between hawthorns, soon joined by two other specimens. This butterfly is smaller and more slender than its cousins, the green-veined white (pieris napi) and the small white (pieris rapae), with which it can be confused in flight. It is however much less common and is especially located in Southern Wallonia, mainly in Fagne-Famenne and in Lorraine, and mor locally in Condroz and Ardennes. Around Liège, the wood white is particularly scattered and rare. The butterfly flies from April to early September and is fond of wooded meadows, sections, edges, and sunny wood path. The caterpillar feeds on legumes such as vetches, lucernes, vetchlings and other lotus, common at \"Ferme Fabry\". |
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Short-tailed blue | The short-tailed blue (Cupido argiades) owes its name to the pointy lobe that prolongs its rear wings. Besides this characteristic, the other side of the wings is light grey with a series of black dots and lines and two small orange spots near the edge of the rear wings. The upper side of the wings is pale blue for the male and brown-dark blue for the female, a sexual dimorphism that is common in the family. In Belgium, this butterfly had completely disappeared in the 20tyh century although it used to be widespread. In 2008, the species reappeared in Southern Wallonia and since then, it has been observed every year through the terrotory, including in the Province of Liège, where its presence is still discreet. It must be noted that while the majority of data is related to male individuals known fo their erratic behaviour, the specimen discovered at \"Ferme Fabry\" is female, which suggests the short-tailed blue breeds on the site. The butterfly feeds mainly on white and red clovers, in meadows, abandoned fields, wetlands and forest edges. |
DRAWINGS
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Map | Map of the area. Th numbers indicate the various sections. In number 4 stands the hospital, where the old citadel used to be. Sainte-Croix garden is in number 6. |