Between the land and the sea

Parc du Marquenterre is a 200-hectare area of dunes, forest, marshland and meadow, in the heart of the Bay of Somme in Picardy, Northern France. Reclaimed from the sea, the land at Marquenterre has become a diverse and rich habitat that supports a wealth of wildlife species.

It's a wonderful place to while away a morning or afternoon. Boarded walkways lead around the wetlands and other varied habitats where, in summer, flowers are in abundance and dragonflies and butterflies flit amongst the vegetation. There's even a herd of resident Henson horses – a hardy, outdoors-loving cross-breed of pure breeds and Fjord ponies from Norway.

But it's the birdlife that most visitors come to see. Marquenterre is home to thousands of migratory birds that stop off en-route between Scandinavia and Africa. Follow the marked trails around the park – there are six miles of trails in total – and you're never far away from an observation point or bird hide, offering dozens of opportunities to view and photograph the park's inhabitants.

Nature guides are on hand to answer questions and point out interesting species – they often have telescopes with them to allow visitors a closer look. There are also excellent information panels and identification guides in many of the hides, to ensure you know what you are looking at! Carry some binoculars with you if you can, to get the most from your visit.

Whatever time of year you visit, there's always plenty to see. Look out for black-headed gulls, avocets and herons. The antics of the many storks that live in the park are fun to watch – they build their huge, untidy nests high up in the treetops, and can often be seen swooping majestically over the water.

The park's population of Eurasian spoonbills is one of the main draws for birdwatchers from across Europe. A white wading bird with a curious, long, spoon-shaped beak, the spoonbill can be seen throughout the year at Marquenterre. There are large numbers of the birds in residence here – on occasion as many as 500 have been seen congregating in the wetlands.

The Parc du Marquenterre attracts around 4 million (human) visitors each year. Yet because of the extensive trails within the park it rarely feels crowded. Spending a day here can be quite magical – and is a fantastic way to immerse yourself in nature for a few hours.

Way to go

Parc du Marquenterre is located on the northern edge of the Réserve Naturelle de la Baie de Somme, 12km south of the seaside village of Fort-Mahon-Plage, and just over 100km from the channel port of Calais.

The park is open all year. For details of opening days and times and ticket prices, click here.

The quickest and easiest route to France from the UK is through the Channel Tunnel. Eurotunnel offers an efficient and affordable service, with three crossings per hour from Folkestone to Calais. The journey takes just 35 minutes,  and a return crossing for a car and up to  five passengers costs from around UK£120.

For places to stay in the area, see the Destination Baie de  Somme website.