Participatory inventory of flora and fauna on the estate!

For this 3ᵉ nature excursion in the spring of 2025, it is the Domaine des Echalas, located in the municipalities of Meurville and Couvignon, directed by Julien and Emilie Perron, who welcomed us for a participatory inventory of the flora and the Fauna. We were thus about twenty naturalists and apprentice naturalists to inventory the biodiversity of the vineyard and its ecological development, on this Saturday, April 19.

In June 2023, a first inventory had allowed remarkable discoveries (orchids, butterflies, birds), proving that we can produce while preserving biodiversity. Indeed, anxious to promote diversity within their 3 ha organic wine island, Julien and Emilie have established natural corridors between the rows of vines (dry lawns in the form of “bands”) and embarked on Vitiforestry, planting various tree species. The foot of the viticultural hill is occupied by a mesophilic meadow, part of which is managed in late mowing. The digging of a pond is envisaged in the medium term, in order to promote new animal and plant species.

It is within this wine-growing area, lined with woods to the south, to the east and to the north, under a beautiful spring sun (despite a few cloudy passages), that the group launches, eager for observation and naturalist discoveries. The observations of the day will thus complement those of June 2023.

Participants will remember in particular a nice diversity of plants within the rows of intra-wine lawns as well as the discovery of various small species of snails, some very rare in the dawn, such as the brilliant tooth (2ᵉ known mention in Aube) or even the Burgundian cochlostomy (world endemic limited to Burgundy and south of Champagne)!

The tasting of the excellent Champagne des Echalas, enhanced by the explanations of Emilie and Julien, will remain an excellent memory!