Nature without borders Area The Reserve through the ages Natural heritage Cultural and architectural heritage Inhabitants, activities and traditions

Forest milieux   Open milieux    Wetlands    Rupiculous milieux   Sandy grassland Chalky grassland Heathland Traditional orchards Heathland      The heathland consists primarily of low vegetation such as ling (Scotch heather) and French broom (Genista monspessulana). This is a result of deforestation and the bush fires that occur regularly on army land in Bitche and to a lesser extent on the former Fischbach Army Camp. The existence of a continental-type climate in the low-lying basins around Bitche can be seen in the presence of a rare anemone at an altitude of 250m, of the Rose Daphne or Garland Flower (Daphne cneorum), and Arnica, which are really mountain plants. Garland Flower, © Michel Rauch The heathland owned by the Army is also home to Cat's-foot (Antenaria dioica), Yellow Chaste-weed (Helichrysum arenarium) and a very rare Lycopodium, the Three-spiked Club-moss (Diphasiastrum tristachyum) which all grow in the dry sand and seem to benefit from the bush fires. On the peaty ground, the heathland also includes other varieties such as Gentiana pneumonanthe and Europhorum vaginatum. Gentiana pneumonanthe, © Michel Rauch A few birds nest in this habitat in particular: the Nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus), the Great Grey Shrike, the Stonechat and the Woodlark. European Nightjar, © Michel Rauch