Jill Pirdas describes a recent visit to this Christian environmental centre near Vence.
How often do we go about our daily lives with our noses to the ground, not noticing the miracles of nature living seemingly parallel lives? Our outing to the A Rocha nature conservation and environmental centre was a refreshing reminder of these wonders - if only we would take the time to “stop and stare” as the poet recommends.
Groups from Nice, Cannes and Menton Anglican churches were invited to spend the day at the Domaine des Courmettes project, up in the foothills of the Alpes Maritimes at 850 metres above sea level. The road took us up past Vence, an important bishopric from the year 439 to the French Revolution, and Tourettes-sur-Loup, once a Roman look out post clamped limpet-like to its rocky promontory, and then we climbed on still further.
Finally, we arrived at a large plateau shaded by giant chestnut trees and a warm welcome from Fr Chris Parkman the chaplain at Menton and his wife Sarah.
After refreshments we learned that A Rocha (the rock) is essentially an international Christian association that aims to inform and raise awareness among the public about how to protect nature and its biodiversity.
The first A Rocha project was founded in Portugal in 1983 by a couple from Liverpool: Peter Harris, a parish priest, and Miranda his wife. Centres have now been established as far afield as India, where the group has established a special road crossing for elephants! Depending on the country, the centre’s work includes protecting migratory birds, tackling water contamination and animal and land husbandry; the list is long. In each centre, A Rocha’s mission is to draw attention to the urgency of addressing the current ecological crisis.
A Rocha was abuzz with different groups. Volunteers were doing building repairs or tending to the vegetable garden. Some groups were out in the ‘field’ camping and examining fauna and flora with a view to scientific research, while others were being trained to be ‘ambassadors’ who would take what they have learned back to their places of work, churches, local government etc.
After a shared picnic some of us set off for a nature walk led by Charlotte our guide and armed with butterfly nets. In a sunny glade, people were seen skipping and swiping (carefully) at these beautiful Lepidoptera.
We learned about their escape techniques including hiding places, scales showing menacing patterns, and using the same-coloured flower as a background: their life span is two to four weeks in general. One black and white butterfly has the memorable and inspired name of demi deuil or half-mourning.
Feeling rather warm from our exertions, we walked on up past a thousand-year oak tree and learned that the leaves on any oak can vary in shape according where they are growing on the tree. We sat in its shade and here Charlotte produced two feathers which were passed around for us to feel. One was speckled, soft and velvety, the other a darker hue and less smooth. Both are from birds of prey with the big difference being in the texture. The soft feather is from an owl, a nocturnal hunter that depends on silence in flight, while the other belonged to a royal eagle that operates in daytime where speed is of the essence.
We trekked on under the azure skies on the lookout for vultures, while learning about plants and grasses. At our final resting spot, Charlotte dug out a selection of jars from her backpack. She had prepared, packed and potted poops of all shapes and sizes for our scrutiny. We learnt that herbivore droppings are rounded, whereas those of carnivores, such as foxes, wolves and boars (who eat anything that’s going) are long and pointed in shape – so now you know! We also learned that Mother Nature knows how to regulate wild boar piglet production according to weather conditions and available food; however, male boars have been up to no good with domestic sows who do not possess this in-built information. These were fascinating gems of knowledge illustrating how natural selection can be upset in so little time.
As Christians we are reminded of the Bible’s exhortations to tend and care for all that has been created since time began: a God-given gift to mankind to enjoy. Thanks to the natural word we are able to live and continue to exist, but so often we ignore it, or worse, brutalize it. As the poet Gerard Manley Hopkins puts it so succinctly: ‘Generations have trod, have trod, have trod, and all is seared with trade, bleared, smeared with toil, and wears man’s smudge and shares man’s smell.’ However, the poet does not despair: ‘And yet for all this nature is never spent,’ he proclaims, drawing our attention to the dearest freshness of ‘deep-down things.’
It’s heart-warming to know that associations such as A Rocha are encouraging us to get involved so as to ensure that our precious planet is protected from human greed and excess. Thanks to these few hours, we all came away inspired by the work that A Rocha is doing.
A big thank-you to Fr Chris, Sara and the team for showing us around so graciously.
