Les sablieres, Ondes, Haute Garonne, France

It's a funny thing, gravel and sand pits are nothing more than open-cast mining, which when we think about the term, we are usually horrified by.

The main reasons are that open-cast mining leaves scars on the landscape and pollution in its wake.

What usually happens with gravel and sand pits is that after the extraction is finished, the resulting lakes are landscaped and handed over to the local council or nature society.

That what has happened here.

Not only have they become a great place for leisure activities such as walking, fishing and running, they also attract a huge variety of wildfowl and wildlife, which attracts birdwatchers and photographers - like you ... yes, You!

There are lakes just behind the works which have been fitted out with smooth tarmac footpaths, parking, bird watcher's hides and specially fitted out spots for disabled anglers - gravel pit owners and rehabilitators, I tip my cap to you!