Réserve naturelle nationale de Chérine, Nature reserve in Saint-Michel-en-Brenne, France

Réserve naturelle nationale de Chérine is a protected area combining ponds, grasslands, wetlands, and woodlands across a low-lying plateau in the Brenne region. Multiple interconnected habitats spread across several hundred hectares, creating a varied landscape where water and land feature prominently.

The reserve was created by a decree of 22 July 1985 over 145 hectares, initially to protect the birdlife of the site. A decree of 9 September 2011 confirmed the classification and raised the area to 370 hectares, and decree 2022-1717 extended it to 394 hectares on 28 December 2022. It lies within the Brenne Regional Natural Park and is managed by the association Chérine.

The reserve is managed by the association Chérine, which runs the Maison de la Nature and organises guided outings and activities for visitors. Ten observatories are installed on the site, five freely accessible and three fully accessible, and marked trails of 3 to 20 km circle the reserve through the characteristic Brenne habitats.

The reserve has several viewing stations positioned throughout to offer clear views of different areas and habitats. Early morning visits work best for wildlife watching, particularly in spring and autumn when animal activity is highest.

The European pond turtle, called cistude locally, lays its eggs in the reserve's grazed meadows, which is why pastoral activity is maintained there. The ponds Cistude and Ricot are among six water bodies in the reserve, and the woods, left unmanaged, keep the dead trees that beetles and bats depend on.