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.