A true green setting in the heart of cultivated meadows, Etang de la Sablière is located in the commune of L'île-d'Elle on high and calcareous land. In addition to the 8 hectare portion developed by the County Council, this pond is divided into multiple small private properties.
The history of this site is singular since the pond was built from an old sand quarry that was filled with water in the 19th century. Its total surface area of 16 hectares makes it the largest body of water in the Marais Poitevin. Its original perimeter includes wooded borders and islets, while the tail of the pond is home to a real warbler's nest. This environment particularly attracts the grey night heron, a small discreet wader that finds there a quiet site to hide, the reed harrier recognizable by its characteristic flight over water bodies, or the well named reed sparrow that has found in this site a preferred terrain.
You can also observe the marsh turtles, otherwise known as marsh fern, the broad-leaved crab or the white water lily... These are plants from characteristic swampy environments that make all the originality and richness of this unique site. A small jewel of the Marais Poitevin, this area is frequented by nature lovers and fishermen.
