Fouquières Marsh Slag Heaps

Once a marsh, this site was backfilled by various deposits throughout the mining era. These were mainly black shale, ash and red shale, as well as a whole host of fuels which, even today, cause the combustion of certain parts of the slag heap, forming fumaroles in places. The deposits have been organised in such a way as to form a "canyon" within the slag heap itself, creating a rather unique relief. Since the closure of the mines, the site has changed significantly. The planting associated with the slag heap’s reclassification, as well as the natural plant colonisation, offers up some highly contrasting landscapes and atmospheres for visitors to discover today.