The forest sparks children’s imaginations from a very young age. Adorable tales featuring mischievous foxes, cartoons that are both a little scary and a little enchanting, where trees talk and flowers sing, and catchy nursery rhymes where the cuckoo calls back to the owl from the top of its tall oak tree… A whole world takes shape in their little minds, and one they’ll want to protect as they journey through real life!
Guide them on the path to preserving the flora and fauna that fascinate them so much by teaching them a few simple actions to put into practice as early as their next vacation in La Plagne.
Doing the right thing… with dead wood
🤤 It’s tempting… to pick up those pretty pieces of wood lying on the ground to build a fort where cousins can share secrets and giggle as they list their favorite swear words (since they’re off-limits).
❌ Why it’s a bad idea: Dead wood serves as a habitat for all sorts of small creatures (insects, birds…) and plants (mushrooms, lichens…). Plus, as it decomposes, it enriches the soil with minerals essential to the health of the trees growing around it.
💡 What to do instead? A day oftree-climbing (for the thrill of climbing trees and exploring the forest from above), and a treehouse in the living room, complete with plenty of pillows, blankets, and tasty snacks (to keep the thrill of the forbidden alive).
Doing the right thing… with blueberries
🤤 It’s tempting… to use a comb to speed up blueberry picking a bit (it’s true that it’s easy to lose patience when you see how many berries you need to pick just to cover the bottom of your bucket…)
❌ Why it’s a bad idea: Using a rake damages the young shoots and blueberry bushes (and you might end up with more leaves than blueberries in your bucket…). That’s why harvesting with a rake is prohibited in Savoie until August 15 (and discouraged by the ONF even after that date).
💡 What should you do instead? Pick blueberries by hand into a small bucket (less discouraging)… and stop by the bakery for a slice of blueberry pie when frustration starts to set in. Blue teeth and a purple tongue are guaranteed—and that’s the best part!
Doing the right thing… with mushrooms
🤤 It’s tempting… to stomp with all your might on the mushrooms you find along the way to see if they give off “smoke” (in other words: spores).
❌ Why this is a bad idea: Trampling a mushroom disrupts a fragile ecosystem. It’s important to preserve all species, even those that aren’t edible.
💡 What to do instead? A virtual themed mushroom hunt! The biggest, the prettiest, the weirdest… Without touching the delicate boletes, porcini, and morels—but with a camera to capture the specimens you encounter.
Good to know: In Savoie, mushroom picking is limited to 5L per day per species. Learn more about mushroom picking in Savoie.
Doing the Right Thing… with Flowers
🤤 It’s tempting… to pick a huge armful of flowers to give to Grandpa and Grandma (“I love you this much!”).
❌ Why this is a bad idea: If everyone decided to give a huge bouquet to their grandpa or grandma (or any other wonderful person), there would be fewer and fewer flowers in the forest. And that means fewer and fewer pollinating insects (among other things). A huge blow to the fragile ecosystem of the forest floor…
💡 What to do instead? A small bouquet, plain and simple! Pick fewer, but better: select a few pretty flowers, and stop when the arrangement fills your little hand.
Good to know: In Savoie, certain flower species are protected, and picking them is either prohibited (Martagon lily, edelweiss…) or strictly regulated (daffodils, holly, gentians…). Learn more about flower picking in Savoie.
Be a good hiker… on forest trails
🤤 It’s tempting… to stray from the trail to play hide-and-seek among the trees (and yell “boo!!!” to scare your little brother or sister as they approach)
❌ Why it’s a bad idea: Stepping off the trail means risking trampling the young shoots that will become tomorrow’s trees, damaging the habitats of hardworking little creatures, scaring the forest’s inhabitants, or even accelerating soil erosion.
💡 What to do instead? Play hide-and-seek… with the animals! For example, take a walk in the forest after a good rain shower to increase your chances of spotting animal paw prints in the wet soil. Or go hiking on high-altitude trails with a pair of binoculars to try to spot marmots (easy!) or chamois and ibex (harder…). The best idea? Join a guided hike focused on flora and fauna. It’s perfect for discreetly observing all of nature’s wonders, which are invisible to the untrained eye…
Useful resources from the ONF (National Forestry Office):
🌲 All the ONF’s tips for protecting the forest and keeping yourself safe (walking your dog, picking mushrooms and berries, protecting yourself against ticks…)
