Regional Nature Reserve Castel Cerreto

Established in main Panorama 1991, on a proposal by a group of local environmentalists, the Regional Nature Reserve Castel Cerreto covers an area of hilly 143 ettari fra i 300 e i 600 meters above sea level, in the territory of the town of Penna Sant'Andrea, in the province of Teramo.

From the highest part, where is the fraction "Pylon", overlooking a breathtaking view: all the mountains of Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga north-west and the valley of VOMANO to the Adriatic Sea to the south-east.

The territory has been inhabited since ancient times, as evidenced by the numerous archaeological finds in nearby Monte Giove, dating from the seventh century B.C., preserved in the archaeological museums of Chieti and Teramo.

The main feature of the protected area is represented by the forest that occupies about half of the land and housing, in its upper part, some small ponds, of which two perennial, connected by streams of water where they live, in addition to the green frog and the common toad, numerous individuals of great crested newt and Italian newt. The latter, endemic of the central-southern, is present with a large population that, according to many researchers, is one of the largest in Abruzzo.

x deer and email The forest and the surrounding land, some of which uncultivated, provide an ideal habitat for many animals, especially birds, that are fairly easy to observe. In the old trunks of poplars and shelter the green woodpecker and great spotted woodpecker; very abundant are the magpies and jays, and is easy to observe the golden oriole; the hoopoe is common in cultivated area out of the woods and, of Inverno, is easy to observe the woodcock. Diurnal and nocturnal birds of prey are abundant: between the latter, the hawk, breeding bird species, was chosen as a symbol of the reserve. And are also common nesting turtle dove and pigeon woods. Many other birds, especially passerines, inhabit the reserve, helped no doubt by the many nest boxes installed for several years in the wooded area.

Small mammals, more difficult to observe given the habits especially not-turne, however are abundant in the reserve, as is clear from the traces of their presence, what remains of food, droppings and footprints. In addition to widespread species, like the fox, the hedgehog and squirrel, they were observed other more elusive such as skunk, the stone marten and dormouse, while some researchers do not rule out the occasional presence of the wolf, in inverno, given its proximity to the Gran Sasso-Laga. And 'interesting to recall that the last sighting of porcupine dates back to 1976, when a specimen was found dead a short distance from the current perimeter of the reserve.

Important data on the diffusion of small mammals, reptiles, amphibians and bats were collected with a study, just finished, conducted by the researcher Vincenzo Ferri. This study joins the trees and shrubs (published an interesting volume, Gianfranco authors and Giuseppe Pirone Torresi for Edizioni Floema), that has identified and described the morphology, ecology ethnobotany e di 57 woody species.

And then there are the studies on birds, with the endorsement and monitoring of nest boxes and ringing.

The courses in environmental education with schools in different order each year to allow many students to perform, field, interesting experiences naturalistic. 19 Area pic nic fonte nocella

The forest of Castel Cerreto has been fitted with a good network of trails, with various levels of difficulty, equipped with botanical cards and explanatory panels. It 'also a path to the journey easier and some picnic spots with tables and benches.

The executive offices and the hall of environmental education can be found in the capital where he began the construction of a natural history museum. The population Pylon is the entrance of the Reserve, the guest and the classroom of the pond, a structure where you can observe the aquatic environment of the reserve, Here artificially reconstructed. Always in pylon was made a wildlife area that is home to deer, easy to spot from two points of view.