L’Oltrepò Pavese, the only part of Lombardy south of the Po and situated between Emilia and Piedmont offers a pleasant diverse landscape which goes from plains to hills and mountains. In 1999, a park “Le Folaghe” was established in the municipality of Casei Gerola by a coalition of local authorities. This excellent example of environmental development includes a complex of former clay quarries filled by underground water which are now home to tuffetti (podiceps r.ruficollis), larks, coots and many both nocturnal and diurnal birds of prey. Around the pools, which are home to mullet, pike, carp and electric ray, live not less than 13 species of snakes and amphibians including frogs (temporaria agilis), and salamanders (triturus cristatus), you may see moles, martins and weasels. Such a delicate environment, set in a decayed farming area, requires constant commitment from the volunteers of the Voghera section and from the group of “Friends of Le Folaghe Park”. www.amicidelparcolefolaghe.com