WOW!!! With the drought, I'd be taking advantage of the opportunity to get that soil in the wash area and some from the fish pond pulled out and staged somewhere. That would be superb compost for a vegetable garden and landscaping!! That is absolutely perfect!! All the broken down forest debris mixed with the vast nutrients left by the fish! People pay a fortune for that grade of compost and you have it for free lol.
What would a proper Chateau be without a menagerie of animals? Seriously, thank you for advocating for rescue and for giving a new life to the donkeys and all the paws. The windows (as the rest of the Chateau) will definitely be a labor of love and can't wait to see the difference their refurbishment will make to the facade. Sending prayers for the much needed rain in France and other parts of Europe.
I enjoy watching your videos. There is a lot of variety with redecorating, the animals, the vegetable garden, & the grounds, & the bits of humor added here & there. Thank you for making them.
Hey both! With the man made lake area. Without a doubt now is the perfect time whilst it’s dry to go around and cut trees and major root systems. I know you have so much to do. But it will not always be that dry for many a year. Clean the base out remove surrounding trees and fix walls. Yes! Huge amount of work but a hell of a lot easier now than later. Just an opportunity knocks time. 🙌
So very rich soil down in the woods! Love the cats, dogs, and donkeys...all so cute! Just taking those shutters down is a big job. Sure hope it rains there for you and all of France. After a long dry spell we have had two huge down pours here with another one forecast on Tuesday. Calmed the hot temps down too. I do hope you will post next as it is fun to see what you are doing!! Thanks!!
Have you considered bringing in Nic the arborist who works with Dan from the channel Escape to Rural France as well as the Chateau Chronicles. He does amazing work to restore forest areas
I am glad I found you .. I usually watch “ The Pethericks. They too work hard and Billy and his friend Ryan add a sense humor. I love animals so I will watch you, if is ok? They have a chateau too, donkeys horses. Thank you for a great video.
What a wonderful walk through your property! Both the vivier and the other area looks like it would provide some healthy compost for your garden. Maybe even turn the washing area into a big compost bin. Thanks again for a serene video.
The vivier could be a beautiful spot for relaxing and swimming in a natural setting. Some people like that instead of pools. You have a wonderful home. Love the animals and your humour. Always excited to see when you post. 💖🙏🇨🇦
I am new to your wonderful adventures, and you re becoming one of my favorite channels! What do you suppose caused the depression in the ground at 9:04? A former structure, a pond for animal drinking water? Do you find renovating in France easier than working on the newer structures in the US? You always seem calm and relatively unruffled (at least on film) by the challenges you take on, and you are both wonderful partners to each other. I find your beautiful filming and editing soothing. Of course, as a fellow dog/cat/equine (+++) rescuer, any time you feature your critters I am thrilled. They all appear calm and happy as well! We can't save them all, but we mean everything to the ones we can. ❤
It was nice to see you two again, I was wondering if we would see the donkey's and there they were. This heat and draught is a burden on so many, hopefully it will lift come fall if not sooner. Thanks for today. Love from NY.
Love to see the animals - I’m a cat person have two rescues think my hubby would leave if I had 6 lol 😅 do they all get on ? Thank you for saving the donkeys they are lovely ❤
Love the wash house. I see them all over France on private property like you guys as well as public property in small villages. A reminder of a prior way of life. It will be fun to see what you decide to do with it. Cheers-
So enjoy your vlog. Your property is huge. Sad that the drought left so much dry grass. Pray for rain. Kitties have the good life. And your dogs. So glad you saved the donkeys. They are quite smart and loveable. Enjoy your week.
Thank you so much for the update. Love your videos so much. I was surprised how big the property is with the big pond and the wash area. Thank you for sharing how all the animals are. Love and Blessings to you all, Doris 🇦🇺🦘
The strawbridges turned their lavior into a wading pool. Maybe you could do something like that. It is so cool that yours is made of slate except slate can get slupery when it is wet. It is beautiful though.
You almost have 10,000 subscribers! That’s awesome. I remember I started watching you from the very beginning when you just had a few subscribers. I am so proud of you!! I love your content!
I hope you get some rain soon. I know it is bad in Germany also. The River Rhine is way way down. Love all the pets and glad they have such a wonderful place to live. That looks like fabulous dirt in the wash house. Can you put that on the garden??
Wow, water is normally there?! 40 acres, ideal! I cringe at the thought of getting into some of our lakes here, but I do and many others. Lol might not be so bad to in your pond! When you mention critters though 😬. Bigger home and more land. = More animals! I love the thought of that! I've always heard too that you need at least 2 donkeys. But wouldn't you want more than one 😊 . Love seeing what your animals are up to!
What a shame the ?avivier wasn't maintained to some or any degree. Lots of work ahead for sure. Darn, I was excited to see the shutter project underway so I can't believe I'd be wishing for rain to get on with it. Maybe I missed an earlier tour of your grounds but what us that charming stone cottage behind your chateau? I knew nothing about donkeys before but more people have them now and they are adorable not to mention that if they're beig kept and cared for, then there there are fewer donkeys headed for the food supply. 😪
Yes, we're a bit miffed regarding upkeep of the grounds. I think the stone structure you're referring to is our garden building. We showed it in the vlog where we give a garden tour (episode 8)
Boy is nature strong and persistent. Your forest has trebled it seems. Do you know the Chateau de la Grifferaie couple. They are Canadian. Sometimes it is nice to know people from similar backgrounds, when you are in the new land. A lot of English chateau owners catch up with one another regularly I think making a little support network. Regards.
Wow. That soil in the washhouse looked so rich! Can you use it in your garden? I see a large digger in your future. I also love the idea of restoring the Vivier as a swimming hole. It's actually really fun to swim with fish - and wild swimming is becoming very popular! I personally LOVE it. Can't stand swimming pools - the maintenance or the chemicals. Just a thought. Love you channel. Thanks for the content.
That is a huge property! That muck in the slate basins could be terrible compost if you can get it out of there. I watched a short video by a small sheep farmer in the Shetland Islands who can’t shear her sheep or make hay because of excessive rain!!! All those excessive weather patterns are becoming a real burden.
Are you thinking of restoring the pond? If so, this would be an opportune time, with the drought, to get a digger in there. It may be your only chance at doing it with ease. Another great video!
Love the forest, so mysterious.... Does the stream dry out in the summer? How do y'all stay cool in the summer is there air conditioning in the chateau?
A natural swimming pool would be amazing. If done well they are low maintenance. I actually have seen a person in America but has been to Australia do beautiful natural swimming pools. If you want to have a look it’s Greg Wittstock ‘The pond guy’ 😊
In Australia we have dams which are pretty much the same thing and they’re often used in summer to swim in. A yabby might bite your toe but the fish are fine. It’s such an opulence to have a nice big dam.
Nothing says home like a bunch of furkids. I really like donkeys too. Regarding a natural swimming pool, it sees to be a very healthy thing to have rather than a traditional pool. At the channel Mapperton Live they are restoring their 18th century pool and putting in water plants to keep it healthy. They are working with another TH-camr who builds natural pools. His name and channel are David Pagan Butler Natural Pools. As a kid, my friends and I would swim daily in a man made pond that was spring feed. It was wonderful.
I had no idea the French used donkey to make sausage. I shouldn't be surprised since the eat quite a bit of horse. I'd eaten it numerous times before I found out. I thought it was beef. Now I wonder if there was doney in my favorite, saucisson à l'ail.
Does France support a spay/neuter program for feral animals? Population control is so important and wonderful folks like you are the best! Thank you for adopting and rescuing!
We’ve always rescued :) I know there are private organizations who arrange spay/neuter but sadly, France is behind the times regarding this. It’s so sad. I still hear of people drowning kittens. It’s very expensive to have the procedure done and people can’t afford it or just don’t care. Wish I could change it all…
A great way to eliminate flies is to take a standard cardboard box put a rock in it so it doesn’t blow away and wrap it in Wide fly paper. It’s inexpensive and you would be amazed at the amount of flies you catch. Good luck!
I feel that the chateau looks better without the shutters. The elaborate stone work surrounding the windows shows well now and sets the windows off excellently.
The stone work around the windows is very ornate. That makes me think the shutters are not original to the chateau. Why would you spend the money to make ornate stone work around the windows and then cover them with shutters? It looks so beautiful without the shutters, if it were me I would just leave them off.
The beautiful fish pond and adorable wash house have all of the nutrient rich soil you need for the next couple years. A trailer for the tractor, a path cut through the trees, and bored children and a mother(-in-law) forced to work for pocket money and room & board is all you need to harvest this amazing supply of organic soil for the garden. The realtor may have been wrong about your ability to reinstate the fish pond. I believe in order to apply for permission to legally restore any pond supplied by a natural water source (spring, stream, river, or other source of naturally flowing water) it must be included on the doomsday map. That said, it appears your pond may be seasonal? Meaning there is no stream feeding it. Provided a naturally flowing water source elsewhere is not diverted to feed your pond and no natural fish are diverted too, trapped in, or blocked by the pond from going upstream or downstream, you may be granted permission to restore the pond. The process, from my limited understanding is time consuming and costly. The lake on my previous property was entirely independent of a moving water source. Therefore I am not educated on the specific requirements or definitions prohibiting restoration of your lake. I'm merely suggesting one makes inquiries before arbitrarily diverting a natural water source to refill a pond/lake. The last thing you want to do as (fellow) Americans in France, is to upset local officials. They have the authority to shut everything you do down and destroy all of your plans and dreams. That said, if I were forced to drain a pond/lake, I would be applying to have it reinstated citing this years exceptional drought conditions. Many streams have completely dried up or do not flow fast enough to sustain life. I would argue a pond/lake with a fish passage or ladder would benefit the environment by banking water for the next drought. Droughts are projected to be more common and prolonged allowing property owners to bank water at their own expense is sure to reduce government spending on mitigation efforts in the short term......wow. I went from a simple comment to a rant on why we must reinstate man-made ponds and lakes across the country. 😄 Cheers!
WOW!!! With the drought, I'd be taking advantage of the opportunity to get that soil in the wash area and some from the fish pond pulled out and staged somewhere. That would be superb compost for a vegetable garden and landscaping!! That is absolutely perfect!!
All the broken down forest debris mixed with the vast nutrients left by the fish! People pay a fortune for that grade of compost and you have it for free lol.
100% correct. I was lusting for that "dirt" in the slate tubs for my big concrete flower pots.
Absolutely!!
🥰Thanks guys!! The animals are lucky to have such a loving home!!💖💖
What would a proper Chateau be without a menagerie of animals? Seriously, thank you for advocating for rescue and for giving a new life to the donkeys and all the paws. The windows (as the rest of the Chateau) will definitely be a labor of love and can't wait to see the difference their refurbishment will make to the facade. Sending prayers for the much needed rain in France and other parts of Europe.
Thanks so much Ella :)
I enjoy watching your videos. There is a lot of variety with redecorating, the animals, the vegetable garden, & the grounds, & the bits of humor added here & there. Thank you for making them.
Thanks, so glad you're watching!
Hey both! With the man made lake area. Without a doubt now is the perfect time whilst it’s dry to go around and cut trees and major root systems. I know you have so much to do. But it will not always be that dry for many a year. Clean the base out remove surrounding trees and fix walls. Yes! Huge amount of work but a hell of a lot easier now than later. Just an opportunity knocks time. 🙌
And that is beautiful, glorious soil !!! For the potager.
Interesting seeing more of the grounds. Always love to see the cats and the donkeys. Great to see they are doing well.
Love to watch ur animals.
Very, very nice. Love the Donkeys!!!!
So very rich soil down in the woods! Love the cats, dogs, and donkeys...all so cute! Just taking those shutters down is a big job. Sure hope it rains there for you and all of France. After a long dry spell we have had two huge down pours here with another one forecast on Tuesday. Calmed the hot temps down too. I do hope you will post next as it is fun to see what you are doing!! Thanks!!
Thanks Tura!
Have you considered bringing in Nic the arborist who works with Dan from the channel Escape to Rural France as well as the Chateau Chronicles. He does amazing work to restore forest areas
I am glad I found you .. I usually watch “ The Pethericks. They too work hard and Billy and his friend Ryan add a sense humor.
I love animals so I will watch you, if is ok? They have a chateau too, donkeys horses. Thank you for a great video.
You are both so real, I appreciate your candor and heart. Thanks for taking the time to do this channel, I know how much filming and editing takes.
Thank you so much!
What a wonderful walk through your property! Both the vivier and the other area looks like it would provide some healthy compost for your garden. Maybe even turn the washing area into a big compost bin. Thanks again for a serene video.
The vivier could be a beautiful spot for relaxing and swimming in a natural setting. Some people like that instead of pools. You have a wonderful home. Love the animals and your humour. Always excited to see when you post.
💖🙏🇨🇦
Thanks so much! Yes, people love natural swimming ponds. I'm scared of the critters 🤪
Love the donkeys. So sweet. The donkeys thank you for their care. Cats too but they don't show it. hahahaha. Enjoying your videos, thank you. ♥
Thanks Val :) I fear I'm turning into one of those cat ladies 😂
Bless you for the care you give all your animals:)
He's pushing the cart and the donkeys are lollygagging! What we do for our pets. 😄
I love donkeys. Bless you. I used to have them. ❤️🙏
Thanks Candy 😄
I am new to your wonderful adventures, and you re becoming one of my favorite channels! What do you suppose caused the depression in the ground at 9:04? A former structure, a pond for animal drinking water? Do you find renovating in France easier than working on the newer structures in the US?
You always seem calm and relatively unruffled (at least on film) by the challenges you take on, and you are both wonderful partners to each other. I find your beautiful filming and editing soothing. Of course, as a fellow dog/cat/equine (+++) rescuer, any time you feature your critters I am thrilled. They all appear calm and happy as well! We can't save them all, but we mean everything to the ones we can. ❤
This was a fun video and love those animals - I’d be a happy camper on those grounds-love your humor and gracious honesty. Keeps it real. 😊
Loved the woods! What a property! I have a bff who is refurbishing a château in the French countryside. Such beautiful realestate! 💜🦋💜
thanks for saving Donkey's. love your vlog
Thank you :)
Very sweet animals ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
You are so loving to your animals. They are very lucky to have a good home with you. xx
Thank you Stephanie!
Real treasures, and that the washing space, just thinking what Dick and Angel did with theirs, near the boat, and they made it a inside pool. A idea.
Wild swimming and swimming in ponds is wonderful and becoming very popular in the UK. You should give it a go
I think so too!
Hope the drought ends soon. We’re in our second heat wave here in New England along with a drought. Love all the animals. Thanks for sharing 😍😘
Thanks Rosemarie :) Hope you get rain too...
Ok, now I want a donkey - or two! Exciting finds in your forest! Loved the comparison of the 2 aerial views... any more spirit encounters?
No ghosts 👻
It was nice to see you two again, I was wondering if we would see the donkey's and there they were. This heat and draught is a burden on so many, hopefully it will lift come fall if not sooner. Thanks for today. Love from NY.
Thanks Joni :) I hope for rain every day!
Love the cats!!!!
Love to see the animals - I’m a cat person have two rescues think my hubby would leave if I had 6 lol 😅 do they all get on ? Thank you for saving the donkeys they are lovely ❤
The mulch soil in the slate wash tubs would be amazing turned in to veg gardens!
Me too love the animals ! and just day to day care for them
The slug is wonderful compost! Don't throw it away.
How cool. You have a lavoir!
My favourite segments of your videos are the animals. You are certainly devoted to them.
Thank you :)
Love the wash house. I see them all over France on private property like you guys as well as public property in small villages. A reminder of a prior way of life. It will be fun to see what you decide to do with it. Cheers-
Yes, it's lovely to have. We're hoping to get out there and work on it soon :)
BEST WISHES TO YOU
So enjoy your vlog. Your property is huge. Sad that the drought left so much dry grass. Pray for rain. Kitties have the good life. And your dogs. So glad you saved the donkeys. They are quite smart and loveable. Enjoy your week.
Thank you Diana :)
Love seeing the grounds and the cats.
Hoping the drought is over soon.
Thanks :)
I love donkeys too 🥰 Thank you that you rescued them. Greetings from Austria 👋
Thanks Petra:)
Thx once again, its a pleasure to watch ! We live in Touraine so incridebly dry here to !🙂
Thanks Marc :) Yes, let's hope we all get some rain here in France!!
Thank you so much for the update. Love your videos so much. I was surprised how big the property is with the big pond and the wash area. Thank you for sharing how all the animals are. Love and Blessings to you all, Doris 🇦🇺🦘
Thanks Doris!
Love all the animal friends!!!! 😍
That lohm you dug out for the clothes washer would be Excellent for the garden! Really Rich in nutrients!
The strawbridges turned their lavior into a wading pool. Maybe you could do something like that. It is so cool that yours is made of slate except slate can get slupery when it is wet. It is beautiful though.
Love the adventuring! The much would be great as mulch for your garden!
You almost have 10,000 subscribers! That’s awesome. I remember I started watching you from the very beginning when you just had a few subscribers. I am so proud of you!! I love your content!
Thanks Rhonda!! Yes, 10,000 would be nice 😊
Very enjoyable😁‼️
I bet the silt in the lavoir would be great in the garden! ❤️😊
I hope you get some rain soon. I know it is bad in Germany also. The River Rhine is way way down. Love all the pets and glad they have such a wonderful place to live. That looks like fabulous dirt in the wash house. Can you put that on the garden??
Thanks Claudia :) Yes, I think it would be great in the garden.
Wow, water is normally there?! 40 acres, ideal! I cringe at the thought of getting into some of our lakes here, but I do and many others. Lol might not be so bad to in your pond! When you mention critters though 😬. Bigger home and more land. = More animals! I love the thought of that! I've always heard too that you need at least 2 donkeys. But wouldn't you want more than one 😊 . Love seeing what your animals are up to!
Thanks Luisa :) I’m guessing there will be more donkeys in future!
Great compost in the washing area.
Lovely vlog thanks for sharing x
Thanks!
who were the people who lived there before? i want to be your neighbor. you guys are living my dream...
That dark mucky dirt would make a great addition to the veggie garden... it looks like compost
Leaf mould very good
That's what I was thinking when he was digging....
What a shame the ?avivier wasn't maintained to some or any degree. Lots of work ahead for sure. Darn, I was excited to see the shutter project underway so I can't believe I'd be wishing for rain to get on with it. Maybe I missed an earlier tour of your grounds but what us that charming stone cottage behind your chateau? I knew nothing about donkeys before but more people have them now and they are adorable not to mention that if they're beig kept and cared for, then there there are fewer donkeys headed for the food supply. 😪
Yes, we're a bit miffed regarding upkeep of the grounds. I think the stone structure you're referring to is our garden building. We showed it in the vlog where we give a garden tour (episode 8)
I will go check it out, thanks!
Boy is nature strong and persistent. Your forest has trebled it seems. Do you know the Chateau de la Grifferaie couple. They are Canadian. Sometimes it is nice to know people from similar backgrounds, when you are in the new land. A lot of English chateau owners catch up with one another regularly I think making a little support network. Regards.
Donkeys are so cute.
Lovely composted leaves u can bag up and use in the garden for vegetable growing.
Mapperton Estate channel has excellent vids on how to's on a natural pool. Fascinating
Ah yes, I saw a bit of their vlog - very beautiful pool. Very envious...
Donkeys cats dogs and hedgehogs 😍
Wow. That soil in the washhouse looked so rich! Can you use it in your garden? I see a large digger in your future. I also love the idea of restoring the Vivier as a swimming hole. It's actually really fun to swim with fish - and wild swimming is becoming very popular! I personally LOVE it. Can't stand swimming pools - the maintenance or the chemicals. Just a thought. Love you channel. Thanks for the content.
Thanks for watching! I’m afraid of the snakes 🐍 when I’m swimming 😂
Love your donkey’s
That is a huge property! That muck in the slate basins could be terrible compost if you can get it out of there.
I watched a short video by a small sheep farmer in the Shetland Islands who can’t shear her sheep or make hay because of excessive rain!!! All those excessive weather patterns are becoming a real burden.
The animals will keep you going even when you don't want to. The forest looks a bit creepy but cool with what it once was! Hope ye get rain soon!
You're so right about the animals! Thanks for watching :)
Enjoying your videos. ( a little digger would be good to clear out the vivier, while its dry )
Thanks for watching :) Yes, we need a digger!
You could make them a mud bath.😂
I hope you kept all that black gold. Would be so good in gatdens
Are you thinking of restoring the pond? If so, this would be an opportune time, with the drought, to get a digger in there. It may be your only chance at doing it with ease. Another great video!
Love the forest, so mysterious.... Does the stream dry out in the summer?
How do y'all stay cool in the summer is there air conditioning in the chateau?
The stream normally runs. No A/C in most homes in France, quite uncommon.
A natural swimming pool would be amazing. If done well they are low maintenance. I actually have seen a person in America but has been to Australia do beautiful natural swimming pools. If you want to have a look it’s Greg Wittstock ‘The pond guy’ 😊
In Australia we have dams which are pretty much the same thing and they’re often used in summer to swim in. A yabby might bite your toe but the fish are fine. It’s such an opulence to have a nice big dam.
Subbed looks a lovely chateau
Your property is beautiful.
Thank you :)
Nothing says home like a bunch of furkids. I really like donkeys too. Regarding a natural swimming pool, it sees to be a very healthy thing to have rather than a traditional pool. At the channel Mapperton Live they are restoring their 18th century pool and putting in water plants to keep it healthy. They are working with another TH-camr who builds natural pools. His name and channel are David Pagan Butler Natural Pools. As a kid, my friends and I would swim daily in a man made pond that was spring feed. It was wonderful.
Ah thanks, will check it out!
Looks like a washing shed used to wash the clothing
You need a curry comb to brush. The lake is like the one at chateaux diaries, chateau la lande
With the size of the land you should never have to buy firewood. Plenty of small trees to cut back.
That soil is probably good compost.
Maybe you can use it in the vegetable garden.
Very surprised you don’t have well water for pressure washing.
This is a good time to Rent a dozier and take advantage of the drought and take down the overgrown areas as well as clean out the lake
I had no idea the French used donkey to make sausage. I shouldn't be surprised since the eat quite a bit of horse. I'd eaten it numerous times before I found out. I thought it was beef. Now I wonder if there was doney in my favorite, saucisson à l'ail.
Well the donkey meat is shipped to Italy to make sausage ;(
@@OurFrenchChateau I always wondered what was in pepperoni.
When you lived in SF did you swim in the Ocean, the marina or from Alcatraz to Crissy fields? Then you swim with animals
Does France support a spay/neuter program for feral animals? Population control is so important and wonderful folks like you are the best! Thank you for adopting and rescuing!
We’ve always rescued :) I know there are private organizations who arrange spay/neuter but sadly, France is behind the times regarding this. It’s so sad. I still hear of people drowning kittens. It’s very expensive to have the procedure done and people can’t afford it or just don’t care. Wish I could change it all…
A great way to eliminate flies is to take a standard cardboard box put a rock in it so it doesn’t blow away and wrap it in Wide fly paper. It’s inexpensive and you would be amazed at the amount of flies you catch. Good luck!
That's a great idea. I'm looking into traps, we have some next to the chateau and they work great.
IF you engage the services of a forestry mulcher, their machine would mulch this lorel forest and open up the property again.
Yes! We certainly can't do it all ourselves...
Why dont u buy ur donkeys a face covering like horses have for fly's
Yes, I found some online!
Have you checked out the wash houses or lavoirs in Pont Trieux for ideas on how to repurpose the house? DM me for more info
oh shit at 3:43 I'm ready for adventure!
this part felt so video game-y, I loved it
😂
I feel that the chateau looks better without the shutters. The elaborate stone work surrounding the windows shows well now and sets the windows off excellently.
The presence of shutters is more elegant. Shutters bring life to a façade 🙂
Laurel wood makes very good fire wood as it is very hard....
The vivier is a very interesting concept. Preserving it seems like an excellent idea.
The stone work around the windows is very ornate. That makes me think the shutters are not original to the chateau. Why would you spend the money to make ornate stone work around the windows and then cover them with shutters? It looks so beautiful without the shutters, if it were me I would just leave them off.
Too soon for a pool don’t y’all think?
Cats should never have collars on as they could hang them Seles if they caught the collar on a tree or some such thing
They are break away collars so if they get tangled, the collar will snap open
The beautiful fish pond and adorable wash house have all of the nutrient rich soil you need for the next couple years. A trailer for the tractor, a path cut through the trees, and bored children and a mother(-in-law) forced to work for pocket money and room & board is all you need to harvest this amazing supply of organic soil for the garden.
The realtor may have been wrong about your ability to reinstate the fish pond. I believe in order to apply for permission to legally restore any pond supplied by a natural water source (spring, stream, river, or other source of naturally flowing water) it must be included on the doomsday map. That said, it appears your pond may be seasonal? Meaning there is no stream feeding it. Provided a naturally flowing water source elsewhere is not diverted to feed your pond and no natural fish are diverted too, trapped in, or blocked by the pond from going upstream or downstream, you may be granted permission to restore the pond. The process, from my limited understanding is time consuming and costly. The lake on my previous property was entirely independent of a moving water source. Therefore I am not educated on the specific requirements or definitions prohibiting restoration of your lake. I'm merely suggesting one makes inquiries before arbitrarily diverting a natural water source to refill a pond/lake. The last thing you want to do as (fellow) Americans in France, is to upset local officials. They have the authority to shut everything you do down and destroy all of your plans and dreams. That said, if I were forced to drain a pond/lake, I would be applying to have it reinstated citing this years exceptional drought conditions. Many streams have completely dried up or do not flow fast enough to sustain life. I would argue a pond/lake with a fish passage or ladder would benefit the environment by banking water for the next drought. Droughts are projected to be more common and prolonged allowing property owners to bank water at their own expense is sure to reduce government spending on mitigation efforts in the short term......wow. I went from a simple comment to a rant on why we must reinstate man-made ponds and lakes across the country. 😄
Cheers!
😉