The Ghirardi nature reserve extends for about 370 hectares between the municipalities of Albareto and Borgo Val di Taro at an altitude between 478 and 693 meters above sea level and is located within the homonymous but larger WWF oasis. As in a mosaic, are enclosed in the nature reserve various environments typical of the medium mountain such as meadows, shrubs, forests of oaks, pastures and river beds. This variety of different environments has allowed the concentration in the reserve of animal and plant species much higher than that of other reserves.
Thanks to the varied morphology of the area and very different microclimates and habitats, you can find species typical of harsh climates such as mountain ash, gentian and beech, as well as species of Mediterranean climates such as heather, Serapias neglecta and holm oak. In the reserve flows the Rizzone stream and along its shore the forest of hazelnut and poplar tremoli forms a special species of “tunnel forest”.
Along the Canal Guasto, the black poplars, the willows and the thorny olive trees are enclosed in thick, impenetrable stains. The heterogeneity of the territory of the reserve is also visible by observing the fauna of the area which includes both animals typical of mountain areas, including the rare Bigia grossa, and species of Community interest such as wild boar, dormouse, fox and bat.
We thank Guido Sardella and Ilaria Ghidini for their shared photographs.
43043 Porcigatone
