The land between the municipalities of Novellara and Reggiolo spans 1,981 hectares and, for centuries, remained marshy and covered in dense shrubbery, especially where the ground was slightly elevated. Over time, several reclamation projects were undertaken, but it was only at the beginning of 20th century, thanks to the construction of two key infrastructures -the Canale dell’Agro Mantovano e Reggiano in the north and the Canale Acque Basse Reggiane e Modenesi in the south- that the valleys took on their current appearance. 

Today, these lands provide the backdrop to evocative landscapes: a patchwork of canals, ditches, drains, basins and cultivated fields, where both flora and fauna flourish - easily admired during walks or bike rides. 

In these areas, visitors may encounter rare flowering species such as fen ragwort, marsh spurges, and field pansy. The canals, ditches and man-made basins host rich communities of riparian and water plants, while also offering essential habitats where wildlife can rest, seek shelter, forage for food and reproduce. 

Among the most notable species are Roe deers (it. capriolo), Black kites (it. nibbio bruno), Red-backed shrike (it. averla piccola), Holarctic tree frog (itr. raganella), and Dice snake (it. natrice tassellata) - not to mention rare butterflies like the Southern festoon and the Saturnia pavoniella. 

A trail created by the Italian Alpine Club (CAI) crosses this plain, allowing trekking enthusiasts to explore the valleys of Novellara and Reggiolo starting from the Ponte del Pastore (Shepherd’s bridge) - a route that winds through the landscape at just 20 metres above sea levels.