Natural Heritage

The coastal area of the Cotentin which passes between the Plain and Bessin plateaux forms a deep gulf of 37km² where seawater and freshwater from the 3500km² basin merge to give the area its natural richness. It is also an area of sedimentation forming a natural ford as the name "vey" would imply.. It is easy to imagine crossing on horseback between Grand-Vey and Saint-Clément before canalisation. In the old title deeds of the parish this bay between the Cotentin and the Bessin is always referred to as LeGrand Vey. Before the Petit Vey bridge was built it was a busy thoroughfare which joined Haute and Basse Normandie. Many Roman roads or major highways, "vaies" in patois (hence the name Grand Vey) terminated at this point.

The grassland extends along the mud-flats. Between 1856 and 1972 more than 2000 hectares of polders were incorporated into the farmland forming a horizon of dykes which enclose these flat pastures dotted with farms. On the western edge of the bay the coastal current has built up the Sandbanks of the Madeleine which have risen to form the shoreline to the east of Sainte-Marie-Du-Mont. It was here that Cord Grass (Spartina Townsendi) was discovered in 1906 before it became commonplace along the continental shores.

There are enough shellfish: cockles and mussels, oysters and clams, for a hundred or so professional beachcombers (pêcheurs à pied) to make a decent living. The harbour seal has been coming here to breed since 1991.
The diversity of these habitats explains the international ornithological importance of this area. Over 20,000 birds stop over here during migration, amongst them the Brent goose. Others such as the grey and ringed plovers, the oystercatcher,the curlew, the bar-tailed godwit and the redshank spend the winter here. The Beauguillot ornithological reserve provides a protected shelter of 150 hectares of reclaimed grassland and ancient salt meadows reaching to the sea as well as 350 hectares of public coastal land. Beauguillot's function is to provide a protected environment for water birds on migratory stopovers or which have come for the winter. The reserve also maintains a surveillance of sea mammals with a view to preserving and increasing their population. In winter when the water level is very high both the land and sea areas of the reserve provide a safe refuge for between 30,000 and 40,000 birds.
For further information phone: 02 33 71 56 99.