History
The Bosco del Vignolo Oasis was created around an initial nucleus of land purchased by the Municipality of Garlasco in the 1970s with the aim of preserving the unique wetlands of resurgence, typical of this area of the Po Valley.
The Bosco del Vignolo Oasis was created in 1998 by an agreement between the Municipality of Garlasco, the Lombardy Park of the Ticino Valley and Lipu, which manages nature conservation and environmental education and awareness activities.
Habitat
The remarkable environmental diversity of the Oasis is reflected in the numerous and varied avifauna present, which includes both species typical of woodland environments (such as titmice, wrens, orioles, Cuckoos and Jays) and those characteristic of marshland ecosystems (herons, ducks, Moorhens and Kingfishers, but also amphibians such as the Red Frog, the Tree Frog, the Emerald and Common Toad, and the two lowland newts, the Crested and the Spotted).
In spring, where the forest is thicker, an uninterrupted chorus of songs and calls can be heard, accompanied by the rapid drumming of the Great Spotted Woodpecker and the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, the “laughter” of the Green Woodpecker, and the alarm signals of the Hobby, a bird of prey that is a skilled hunter of small birds and dragonflies. During the winter period, it is common to see the Buzzard, the Montagu’s Harrier and the Hen Harrier in flight as they search for suitable prey, or to see the House Martin and the Siskin, the Tree Sparrow and the Chaffinch flying from bush to bush. In the field of conservation, two reintroduction projects have been initiated, both in collaboration with the Ticino Park and the University of Pavia: that of the Common Spadefoot, a small toad of the Po Valley now at risk of extinction, and that of the Crayfish.
Services and facilities
The Bosco del Vignolo Oasis has a Visitor Centre from which a Nature Trail with educational panels runs. You can park along the dirt road in front of the Oasis entrance. Numerous nature events are organised throughout the year to discover the nature of the Oasis, both for adults and children.
To visit in the area
The Ticino Valley and the Ticino Regional Park with its many reserves and numerous itineraries on foot, by bicycle, on horseback and also by canoe. The town of Vigevano is about 15 kilometres away.
Summary
Locality Garlasco (PV): The Oasis is located entirely in the municipality of Garlasco, in the province of Pavia, about one kilometre from the hamlet of Bozzole, and runs along the ancient river terrace of the Ticino.
Open to the public: The Oasis is open from February to June and from September to November on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, when guided tours are only available with prior booking. Free visits to the public are possible on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
How to get there: Coming from Pavia take the state road n. 596 towards Garlasco, once on the ring road of Gropello Cairoli exit at Gropello Ovest and proceed towards Vigevano along the provincial road n. 206 until the Sanctuary of the Madonna delle Bozzole, where you turn right following a dirt road for about 500 metres until the entrance to the Oasis. Coming from Milan, take the A7 motorway (Milan-Genoa) and exit at Gropello Cairoli.
Surface area: 25 hectares
email: oasi.boscodelvignolo@lipu.it
Telephone: 347 9442440
Manager: Fausto Pistoja