THE PARTECIPANZA WOOD

A green raft in the midst of rice fields, this is how the Sorti della Partecipanza Wood in the Trino Vercellese municipality is often described. It is the last vestige of the vast lowland forest that covered the Po Valley before the extensive land reclamation works for agriculture in the Middle Ages almost totally destroyed it.

Its preservation specifically depends on a strict tree felling system that has been complied with since 1275 when the entire area was assigned in common ownership to the citizens of Trino. To date, members use the wood in accordance with the tradition of past centuries. An area is yearly placed on a tree felling rotation schedule, and then divided into smaller areas known as sorti or “spots”. Each spot is then divided into four (hence the name quartaruoli) and matched to a number. In November, one of the spots is drawn at random by the Participants; hence, it is chance that decides in which area the member may cut his or her share of quartaruoli.

Since 1991, it has been a protected natural area in Piedmont, a large green island of 600 hectares where various animal species find refuge that would find it hard to survive in the surrounding environment so affected by the rice monoculture. The Partecipanza Wood is bright with trees allowing a glimpse of the colours of the sky. It also counts several signposted paths for walking or mountain biking. There is no shortage of picnic areas to enjoy a picnic surrounded by nature, just a stone’s throw from Vercelli.