A whole history
Covering more than 1,000 hectares, the Marais de Sacy is the largest peaty wetland in the Oise department. They are of great ecological and heritage interest because of the many remarkable animal and plant species that live there.
Once occupied by a lake that has now silted up, the Marais de Sacy has been farmed over the last few centuries: agricultural crops in the less wet areas, pasture and grassland for fodder and bedding, peat extraction and watercress growing.
More recently, hunting and fishing have become the main activities, along with the rearing of cattle and horses adapted to the marshy meadow environment.
These various activities have shaped the landscape, with large bodies of water and canals, most of them straight.
But this fragile environment was in danger of drying out due to the natural growth of vegetation.
The site is now classified as Natura 2000 and has been awarded the RAMSAR label.
Get a bird's eye view of Saint-Martin-Longueau by taking a woodland path towards the marshes and gaining free access to the observation tower (10 metres high), which offers a breathtaking view of the site.
Diversity of flora and fauna
Ecological methods are used to prevent the drying out and invasion of woody plants, including the introduction of Camargue cattle and horses, Highlands Cattle and water buffalo. By grazing and trampling, they stop the harmful reforestation of the soil and preserve biodiversity.
Here you can see amphibians such as green and red-legged frogs, common toads, tree frogs and palmate newts, as well as birds such as the emblematic great bittern, little bittern and spotted crake.
It is also home to exceptional plants such as marsh gentian and wild orchids.
