Autumn Environment Week

Autumn Environment Week 2008

21 - 28 October

Autumn in Crete features numerous beautiful wild flowers with annuals sprouting from seed and cyclamens, crocuses, scillas and many others, often in amazing abundance, bursting into flower from bulbs or corms. Wild trees and shrubs are also in fruit. The holly-like kermes oak bears acorns while the scarlet fruits of the strawberry tree provide a striking spectacle in the hills. There is a rebirth of many herbaceous plants and villagers eagerly gather 'horta' for use in cooking and salads. Meanwhile, the warm weather is accompanied by a season of olive & grape harvesting and pressing for oil and wine, and raki production is fired in copper stills.

During this week Dr.Stephen Waters and Clive Daws, who have led our Spring Crete in Bloom weeks for many years, will take you to coastal habitats, grazed and wooded lowland areas, limestone gorges, the foothills of the mountain ranges and archaeological sites for their botanical interest. The week costs just £655, based on category B accommodation, including excursions and flight and is suitable for single travellers, couples and small groups.

The Autumn Environment Week is led by Dr Stephen Waters and Clive Daws, who have run the 'Crete in Bloom' weeks for the past 15 years who write:-

"The change in Crete from the hot, dry Mediterranean summer to the milder weather of autumn is marked by a pot-pourri of fascinating events, in village life and in the natural environment.

In this season of fruitfulness, olives are harvested and pressed for their oil; grapes are gathered to make the village wines. Waste is minimised; the olive husks and prunings from the trees fuel both baking ovens and the copper stills which many farmers use to produce raki, the fiery spirit of Crete. Raki is distilled from a fermented and herb-flavoured mix of the skins and seeds, which remain after pressing the juice from the grapes.

Wild trees and shrubs are also in fruit. The holly-like kermes oak bears acorns, which show its true relationship with the more familiar deciduous oaks, while the scarlet fruits of the strawberry tree provide a striking spectacle in the hills.

With the cooler, often moister, autumnal conditions, there is a rebirth of many herbaceous plants. A range of plants of different families produce fresh, soft shoots and leaves. Many of these are edible, and villagers eagerly gather them as 'horta' for use in cooking and salads.

Numerous beautiful and interesting wild flowers appear at this time of year. Some are on hardy, often evergreen, shrubs, some are annuals sprouting from seed, but there are also great numbers of plants that have remained invisible through the summer as underground bulbs or corms. They now burst into flower and reveal themselves as cyclamens, crocuses, scillas and many others, often in amazing abundance.

During this week, the leaders (Stephen Waters and Clive Daws) will provide a balanced programme to include as many as possible of the events outlined above. Since timings follow the seasons, which vary from year to year, rather than being bound to a fixed calendar, the localities we visit will be those most appropriate for the prevailing conditions. The selection will probably include coastal habitats, grazed and wooded lowland areas, limestone gorges and at least the foothills of the mountain ranges, as well as archaeological sites, many of which also have considerable botanical interest."

Autumn Environment Week Itinerary:-

Below is an outline of our programme for the Autumn Flowers & Walking Week, which will enable us to see a good range of the autumnal flowers and fruits of western Crete. The timing of the seasons varies from year to year, so please be aware that we may rearrange the program or visit different localities to see the best of the plants. Also we hope to have opportunities to be involved with gathering and pressing of olive crops, and with preparation of village wine and raki. These activities are very seasonal so cannot be guaranteed so if they are available, the program will be changed to accommodate them.

Tuesday

Afternoon: Transfer from Hania airport to houses

Evening: Introductory talk with slides

Wednesday

Archaeological site of Aptera, explore the byways of Megala Horafia

Thursday

Lake Kournas, Minoan tombs at Armenoi. Spili

Friday

Morning: Hania old town; markets and museums.

Afternoon: Malaxa Environment Centre

Saturday

Moist lowland areas, Stilos, Kalami, Georgioupoli