Perhaps its humble size belies a deeper story. Welcome to Allée du Bocage. Though seemingly a mere path its name whispers tales of a distinct landscape.
Allée du Bocage is a small street in the 15th arrondissement. Rue du Bocage begins at 9, Rue du Lieuvin. It ends as a dead end. The Allée du Bocage, named in 1935, pays homage to the Bocage Normand. But what exactly is a bocage? The word bocage comes from the Norman word “bosc.” Bosc means woods.
Imagine a mosaic. This mosaic has cultivated fields and meadows. These fields are enclosed by a network of hedges. These hedges often sit atop embankments. These are called talus. This is the bocage.
Historically bocages appeared as early as the Bronze Age. The bocage emerged after the clearing phases of the Middle Ages. People created crops in Joualles. Monasteries established orchards and vegetable gardens. Abbeys formed gardens of simple herbs. The bocage landscape was completed in the following eras. This continued until the 18th century in some regions. At its height, the bocage covered much of Europe’s Atlantic coast. It was also present in some inland areas.
Since the early 20th century, bocage has declined sharply. This is especially true after the Second World War. National and European land consolidation policies caused this decline. Today, bocage is still notable in some areas. These areas include Austria and Belgium. It is also in Italy and the Northwest of the United Kingdom. You can find it in Spain and Portugal too. In France, it exists in the Grand Ouest. This includes parts of Normandy and Brittany. Berry and the Massif Central also have bocage. Even Northern France and the Alps have some.
When bocage is rebuilt it is compatible with intensive agriculture. It also works with large agricultural machinery. It can be combined with agroforestry. But in some cases new bocage lacks biodiversity. It can be geometric and uniform. It may only have one species of plant. It then only provides low-cost wood. This is for intensive silviculture.
However, bocage is an important part of the ecological network. Its networks of meadows, hedges, embankments, and ditches act as biological corridors. Hedges protect soils and crops. They also offer a source of wood energy. This creates a new local economic sector.
The Allée du Bocage evokes a sense of the countryside within the city. Though small it reminds us of the importance of ecological balance. It also reminds us of the historical landscapes that shape our world. As we conclude our visit to Allée du Bocage remember that even the smallest street can tell a grand story about nature. It tells about history and our relationship with the land.