Brittany’s lle aux Pies forest walks for children, with songs and stories
The guided walks through the woods of the Pays de Redonare (Magpie Island) in Brittany are primarily designed for youngsters, but the big ones tend to enjoy them just as much. It is a walk through nature, legend and song. The guide brings to life the stories, local fauna and flora and geology of the region.
The little adventurers lead the way through chestnuts, beeches and great oaks. Dead tree trunks are shown to reveal a whole world of activity; nothing escapes the eagle eye of the guide, who is quite likely to end up singing about the secrets of the woods.
Walkers then discover the river, heron’s nests in the reeds, crows fly overhead and magpies chak-chak; in this unspoilt area of peace. The smiling guide tells a story as everyone settles in the grass. The children are fascinated by all of nature’s wonders at this place where the Nantes-Brest Canal meets the River Oust.
The fantasy goes on, the youngsters are transformed into bargemen; everyone helps them to load the sand from the river Loire, the apples and the lime, into the correct boats going in the right direction.
Just in case anyone one is getting hungry the fairies have left treats from the Nantes biscuit factory behind. The guide is a genius, at reinventing interactivity, beechnuts are cracked open, and parents remember a long forgotten taste from their childhood.
Further challenges greet the youngest members, as they can’t wait to see what is around the next bend. The guide tells the children to hide the acorns they find to simulate how magpies and jays plant trees on the islands, when they hide their provisions. The local cliff erosion is demonstrated by a novel eating task, involving bread and crepe paper. The guide summons the fairies and imps for a story told in song, and everyone sings out to the forest.
The excursions take place each month from February till August at Ile aux Pies site in Saint Vincent Sur Oust at the incredibly cheap price of approximately 2 Euros per little folk, and slightly more for the big folk.