Forests around Is-sur-Tille

General description overall view
The forest of Is-sur-Tille has belonged to the commune since time immemorial. It covers 373 acres and ranges in altitude from 290-410 metres. There are no springs or water courses. The geological foundations go back to the late gurassic era. There is an oceanic climate tempered by continental  influences. Rainfall varies between 750-850 mm a year. On average there is a light snowfall on 25-30 days a year.

Main composition

The forest is mainly composed of oak (75% of the surface area), beech (7%) and other broad-leaved trees (15%) : “alisier” hornbean, broad-leafed lime, rowan service tree, sorb, ash and conifers (3%).

 Suggested ways of managing the forest

The forest management review suggests that where there is deep soil and a good quantity of beech trees (47,75 hectares), a beech wood of quite sturdy trees could be developed. A larger area of forest where top soil is less deep and there is less plant life (mainly small oaks) encourage the growth of brushwood and is suitable for copsing.

 Uses of the wood

Odd bits of timber such as crowns and brushwood are given to the commune for people’s personal use. Larger logs are sold at the ONF’s (National Forestry Commission) big sales. Prices in 1999 ranged between 60€ per cubic metre for oaks over 50 years old and 3€ a cubic metre for the crowns. There are about 20 people in the commune who cut their own wood; the demand for firewood is stable but will probably go down in the future.

 Notable plant life

Inventory of notable plant life; a general inventory of species in July 1998, which should be complemented by an earlier inventory (May-June) already shows 187 species among which the following are protected:  

• Seseli peucedanoïdes

• Inula montana
• Coronilla coronata
• Coronilla emerus

Non-protected but rare, or relatively rare, species include:

• Viola mirabilis
• Iris foetidissima
• Aster amellus
• Cephalanthera damasonium
• Cephalanthera longifolia
• Platanthera chloranta
• Veronica spicata
• Ranunculus gramineus
• Trifolum alpestre

Life in the forest

The survey of animal life shows that there aren’t any remarkable species but since 1989 there has been a growing number of roebuck as well as larger deer.

The forest is divided into two hunting areas, rented out to the Diane de l’Ignon hunting society for 2305 € a year. A lot of people visit the forest, especially in spring & summer : these are mainly local people who come for walks, mountain biking or to pick the wild fruits. In addition, the paths are used regularly by riders from the riding school at Mauritaines farm.

 Source : La forêt communale d'Is-sur-Tille, révision d'aménagement forestier (1999), Office national des forêts Direction régionale de Bourgogne, Division de Dijon-ouest, Groupe technique d'Is-sur-Tille, Triage d'Is-sur-Tille.

Bolet Aemilii : This rare mushroom was found locally and described for the first time in 1914. It was not until September 1998 that it was seen again in the same place.

Translated by Jill Amey