Natural History
The garden and surrounding area are great for birdwatching and nature
walks. In Spring the birdsong fills this normally peaceful area and
the only traffic problems are caused by flocks of partridges on the
road!
In about 3 acres of grounds La Maison Neuve is situated in fields normally
covered with cereal crops, glorious sun flowers and maize. La Maison
Neuve's 3 acres is a mini nature reserve among the rolling peaceful
hills of the Vendee.
We have many shrubs, trees and flowers. There is a small copse area
as well as open grass. Trees include oak, sweet chestnut, ash, plane,
horse chestnut, willow, acacia, sycamore, hazel, walnut, cherry, plum,
apple, pear, buddleia, elder, hawthorn,laurel and mimosa.
Bird records in the garden include golden oriole, hoopoe, turtle dove,
cuckoo, green woodpecker, great spotted woodpecker, lesser spotted woodpecker,
nuthatch, treecreeper, goldcrest, firecrest, barn owl, tawny owl, little
owl, buzzard, kestrel, hobby, sparrowhawk, goshawk, merlin, black kite,
hen harrier, red backed shrike, great grey shrike, nightingale, cirl
bunting, partridge, pheasant, pied and spotted flycatchers and many
more. Also in the surrounding countryside one can see little egret,kingfisher,
cetti's warbler, migratory osprey and storks.
Other garden sightings include red squirrel, roe deer, hare, hedgehog,
garden dormouse, noctule bat, weasel, beech marten (and a visit from
wild boar) western whip snake, grass snake, slow worm, adder, and various
lizards. Both types of swallowtail butterfly, peacock, comma, brimstone,
hawkmoths and hundreds more.
Binoculars and reference books are available.
