The transition zones between two different habitats (forest – grassland; wood – lake; fresh water – salt water, etc.) are special ecosystems because they are home both to species that are exclusive to these types of habitat, as well as communities typical of neighbouring habitats. Generally, they offer many different opportunities for the species and are therefore characterised by a high level of biological diversity. 

In the landscape that characterises a large part of the floodplains today, natural habitats are very rare and very often small and/or isolated. Moreover, they almost always have a clear-cut boundary and abruptly stop without any transition belt towards the outside. This situation impoverishes and modifies both their landscape appearance and their capacity to give shelter to many species. 

The artwork is dedicated to these types of habitats that are so rare today. It is located within a flood-control basin on the right bank of the Ombrone River. This watercourse, which was made artificial with hanging embankments many years ago, is a dramatic example of the destruction of typical fluvial ecotones, i.e. those transitional belts towards the surrounding countryside that are usually rich in trees, bushes and small seasonal wetlands.

The artwork is composed of a central perennially flooded portion that fades on all sides with very diversified transitional habitats: wet meadows, areas with rushes and sedges, reedbeds, banks without vegetation, wet forest zones, etc. To emphasise their highly dynamic characteristics, all these new habitats have been designed with precise geometric shapes. These forms enable the observer to easily perceive the changing state of flooding of these sites during the various seasons, which is the most important ecological factor linked to the different functionality for the species. For example, we observe a chessboard pattern on the north side and another design that recalls a star on the north-west side. 

The figures change from perfectly delineated shapes when fully flooded during winter, to intermediate stages with more blurred forms, and finally to the opposite extreme with clearly defined but waterless shapes during the dry summer. This dynamism is the key element of this intervention, allowing us to understand the value, ecological role, spectacularity and, of course, the profound beauty of these “in-between” habitats between land and water. 

Category

Work-Site

Author

Carlo Scoccianti

Area of intervention

Ponte a Tigliano, Prato.
The area is located within the Site of Community Importance (SCI), Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and Special Protection Area (SPA) of the Stagni della Piana Fiorentina e Pratese (Natura 2000 code IT5140011).

Status before intervention

Flat countryside area encircled with embankments. Used as a controlled overflow basin for water from the adjacent Ombrone River.

Type of intervention

New wetland constructed with mechanical equipment in a pre-existing area used as a flood-control basin. The artwork features broad strips of ecotonal environments and was completed by planting aquatic and riparian species thanks to groups of volunteers (social art intervention).

Work status

Completed (September 2018).

Authorities/agencies involved

- Consorzio di Bonifica 3 Medio Valdarno

- Committee for the WWF Oases of the Florence area

Main bioindicators used to monitor the ecological functionality of the work-site

- Waders: stopover during migration, nesting.

- Ducks: stopover during migration.

- Rails: stopover during migration, nesting.

- Herons, with particular reference to grey herons (Ardea cinerea), considering that not far away there is an important colony of this species).

- Common kingfisher (Alcedo atthis): nesting.

- Bee-eater (Merops apiaster): nesting.