Rouens. In the garden of Repainville, we inaugurate a “renatured” watercourse
By Marie Aillerie
Published on
“In Rouen, on nature. These were the first words of the mayor and president of the Métropole, Nicolas Mayer-Rossignolduring the’inauguration of the renatured watercourse within the urban natural park of Repainvilleto the east of Rouen (Seine Maritime). Project presented in April 2021, today 1 kilometer of stream has regained its natural curve, and modifications have been improved to the banks.
The Repainville site has been studied since 2011 by the town hall of Rouen, for its fragile environment and considered “in danger”, in particular for its waterways. It was then necessary to act in order to avoid flooding of the site within a few years. In 2020, the project was appointed to the CE3E design office.
An emblematic site
After being prevented from building a Castorama 20 years earlier, the Repainville site has become a place known for its great biodiversity. With more than 30 designated bird species and a hundred plant species, the City of Rouen has decided to protect it over the long term. Its rivers flow directly into the Seine, and will serve as a buffer zone in the event of heavy rain or flooding.
The City of Rouen has therefore restored the Maison Lelaumier, which is made available to associations, created an educational trail around the ponds and the biodiversity reserve, and deployed a greenhouse for the market gardening integration project.
“A collaborative project”
After a diagnosis of the hydromorphological state of the waterways in 2017, which concluded that there was a need to make changes and a return of the biodiversity specific to wetlands, work began in 2021, requested from the company Forests and Landscapes. This was followed by a long process of consultation between the various associative actors of the natural park. Then the work began at the end of November 2021 and was completed in March 2022. For a total cost of 195,000 euros, this renaturation project was financed by:
- 60% by the Seine-Normandy Water Agency,
- 20% by the Department of Seine Maritime,
- 10% by the Watershed Syndicate,
- 10% by the City of Rouen.
“Of course, this project does not stop there, we will have to bring this place to life, make it known and why not, bring environmental education to the young generations added”, Benoît Anquetin, President of the Syndicate of the watershed.
And the ride?
Since April 2019, it is possible to walk around the Repainville site. An educational trail has been installed, allowing you to admire this biodiversity over more than 1 kilometre. The entrance is still hard to find. “We must ensure, this year, that the place is accessible”, judge Benoît Anquetin. The place is passable for people with reduced mobility, although you will have to be careful not to slip on the wooden footbridge!
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