Gresswiller. Foxes, owls, and butterflies: a photographic exhibition on this disappearing nature

This is a circuit punctuated by 12 signs, installed on the edge of the Wurmberg limestone hill. An easy family route, in a unique green setting, it starts at the Gresswiller train station before passing in front of the barracks following the path marked by a green circle.

An initiative led by the Gresswiller Nature association and bringing together numerous private and public partners, the exhibition presents 12 photographs of local wildlife. From foxes to roe deer, from martens to butterflies, bees and owls, they all tell the same story: that of nature disappearing under blows and concrete. While the photographers' talent explodes in each panel, it serves as a reminder that being a spectator of these moments when nature reveals itself is increasingly exceptional, as they have become so rare.

"It's difficult to make people understand that if we don't preserve this nature, our children and future generations will never see it," says Maurice Eisenblaetter, president of the young association affiliated with Alsace Nature.

Gresswiller Nature was originally created to defend threatened biodiversity and endangered landscapes. "But we wanted to develop an important educational component aimed at schools to showcase this little-known wildlife and explain its extreme fragility," he continues. This is how the photo trail project came about.

It took several meetings and the gathering of around fifty photographs to select these 12 gems. "They were selected by the committee. They were submitted by three local wildlife photographers, including Vincent Michel from Wasselonne and Benoît Rahier from Gresswiller," explains Maurice Eisenblaetter, who also lives in Gresswiller and is also the third photographer to exhibit. In addition to the diversity of the subjects (mammals, birds, insects), the photographs had to meet stringent technical criteria to be enlarged.

"The photos were printed in a large 80x120 cm format. This is a very demanding quality to avoid pixelation or blurring," emphasizes the president. Each photo was accompanied by a clear and informative text about the animal presented, and then the whole thing was mounted on a wooden easel.

"The partners, notably the Molsheim Tourist Office, paid for the prints and provided the wood. Volunteers were responsible for assembling the panels," notes Maurice Eisenblaetter.

It remains to be hoped that in the future, spectators will be able to observe these animals in real life and in their natural environment...

The trail, consisting of 12 panels, will remain in place until September 30. To learn more about the program of activities and to join the association: Gresswiller Nature on Facebook and online at www.gresswillernature.fr. To contact the association: gresswillernatu [email protected].