Meadow liable to flooding

An area of a river floodplain. The meadows liable to flooding are rich areas from a biological standpoint, many protected animal or plant species being found there. Depending on the richness of the soil and waterlogging duration, the hedge hyssop, the fritillaria meleagris or snake's head, protected species in France, are blooming. The flora is often accompanied by an animal population composed of amphibians, small mammals and especially many insects. Among the latter, butterflies of high value to biodiversity, such as the marsh fritillary, the Alcon blue and large copper, or grasshoppers such as the Stethophyma grossum or large marsh grasshopper, are only found in this type of environment. Many birds such as the common curlew, whinchat, corncrake, red-backed shrike, gray heron or little egret are breeding on these meadows. Areas remaining under water longer and connected to the river are also very good spawning areas for the reproduction of the pike and common frog. These grasslands also have a functional value in terms of flood absorption, filtration and water purification.