Piemonte Italia

The Lame del Sesia Nature Park

In the middle of the rice farming that dominates the plains of Vercelli, this nature park was created along the marshes (lame) of the Sesia River, that is, along the swampy and watery areas that form in places left behind when a river changes its course. The plant life within these tracts is made-up of groves of reeds, canes, ferns, and water irises. In the strip of woods close to the river bed, mostly white willows are seen; whereas little by little as you leave the river bank, black alders, ash trees, and elms appear. The park’s fauna is rich with rodents such as squirrels and dormice. Birds are represented by more than one hundred and sixty-five species, about seventy which are nesting birds including the grey heron, the purple heron, the little egret, and the black-crowned night heron.
It is possible to tour the park on horseback and two paths have been set up: a self guided botanical nature path and a more rigorous path, both in the town of Albano Vercellese. There are also spots to watch animals which are either close to the self-guided tour or near the Isolone Reserve as well as the Casalbeltrame Special Reserve. Inside the castle at Albano Vercellese, which is Lame Park’s administrative seat, guest quarters have been set up to welcome tourists.