Like an initiation ceremony, this book provides
the key to two sites which are internationally
reknown for the quality of their
natural environment : the bay of the Somme
and the Marquenterre. Rendez-vous with the
wind, light, birds, but also with an old aristocrat,
cockle gatherer and the creator of
the bird reserve.

Jacques Béal lives in the bay of the Somme and is
a journalist with the `Courrier picard'. He is also
the author of several books including `Anthologie
des poètes de la Grande Guerre' published by
Cherche-Midi.

At the beginning of the seventies,
there was a public outcry following
the anarchical urbanisation of the
French coast. Housing estates, marinas,
villas and beach huts flourished
along the coastline.

In response to a request from the
Government, the regional planning
authority (DATAR) proposed the
creation of an organisation
responsible for acquiring the most
fragile and most threatened open
spaces on the coast on behalf of
the nation as a whole.

The Conservatoire of Coastal Areas
and Lake Shores (Conservatoire
de l'espace littoral et des rivages
lacustres) was created on
10 July 1975, inspired by the
National Trust.

By the eve of the year 2000, the
Conservatoire had acquired nearly
60,000 hectares along the
shorelines, thus ensuring the
protection of more than 10 % of the
coastline. Since the Conservatoire's
land is inalienable, it will be passed
on intact to future generations.
All the Conservatoire's sites are
open to the public. It is for you
to discover them and wonder at
the constantly changing scene
between land and sea.