Biosphere Reserve - White Villages Andalucia

The Sierra de las Nieves has been declared a "tourist destination" which includes the surrounding areas of:

Alozaina
Alozaina which means "small fortress", makes the boundary between the Malaga basin and the mountains. Rich in archaelogical remains, the area harmoniously combines its fields of olive trees, orchards and cereal crops with the majesty of the Sierra Prieta, whose peak stands at 1,525 metres high!

This mountain village, crammed with nooks and crannies of a markedly Muslim flavour, was the birthplace of Maria Sagredo, the local heroine who defended Alozaina, when the Moors attempted to capture it by hurling beehives at the locals, taking advantage of a moment when only its women, children and elderly were present.

The village, historically renowned as a healthy location, offers breathtaking views, good food, top-quality accommodation and a wealth of options for those in search of an active holiday.

Casarabonela
With its mixture of different cultures. Casarabonela is one of Malaga's best examples of a village that has managed to successfully combine its Muslim and Christian opast, largely conserving the original urban layout of the Arabic Casr-Bonaira.

Its steep, narrow streets are home to a myriad if blind alleys and rasied rooms under which the street itself passes. The thirsty traveller will appreciate the fountain and crystalline sorings to be found here.

Today, the village founded by the Romans as Castra Vinaria is a haven of peace and tranquility whose upper reaches afford views of an attractive carpet of fertile fields splashed with the brilliant white of the farmhouses. In Casarabonela, hills merge with streets, the river with the fountain, while in quiet corners, the echoes of fierce battles still ring aloud.

El Burgo
Surrounded by mountains crowned by evergreen oaks, Spanish fir and pine trees. El Burgo stands on a hilltop, defiant in the face of a history that has seen a wealth of different cultures jealously covet this strategic vantage point.

Home to family clans during the Copper Age, it was here that the Carthaganians later built what became known as Hannibal's Tower, while in Roman times it was a obligatory port of call for both men and merchandise alike before becoming the site of a border castle during the Arabic occupation.

The River Turon, which has its source in El Burgo and whose waters help cultivate the fields of olvie trees and cereals crops, flows through a privileged natural setting that the visitor will enjoy sampling along with the roch local cuisine and ancient traditions.

Guaro
The intense aroma of almond trees that bear pink and white blossom in spring signals to the traveller that he is approaching Guaro, an attractive village whose history dates from thhe Copper Age, testimony to its privileged location.

The coat of arms of the earldom of Guarom a mace held aloft by two arms, bears witness to the distinguished past of this locality, which was handed over to the catholic Monarchs following the capture of Coin in 1485. In 1614, it was awarded village status and designated the capital of an earldom of the same name by King Philip IV.

The waters of the River Grande, the symbol of the local economy, only serve to further embelish the picturesque natural setting that awaits the visitor to Guaro.

Istan
In Istan, the streets are dominated by the sound of water gushing out from among the stones, flowing in irrigation channels and sprining forth from fountains, before filling the reservoir that provides drinking water for the Costa del Sol.

Though the richness of the local terrain was already apparent as early as Roman Times, it was the arrival of the Muslims that ushered in the golden age of this village tucked away between the Sierra Real and Sierra Blanca ranges. Local raisins, wine and silk were exported to the whole of Europe, while the introduction of a major water channelling system still in use today turned the hillsides into orchards.

On the way to Istan, shortly after entering the Biosphere Reserve, the visitor will notice a sudden change in light. This is caused by a subtle blend of colours in which carob trees, pines and cork groves produce a series of shades of green that afre complemented by the clear, blue reflection of the Rio Verde reservoir. A spectacular slight to behold, and less than ten minutes from the village.

Monda
Halfway between the valley and the mountains, sheltered from the wind by a hill upon which Villeta Castle stands, Monda's immense beauty saw it officially declared a picturesque spot in 1971.

In this village of landscapes and legends, whose other official accolades include Historic Location and Place of Cultural Interest Status, valuable traces of ancient inhabitants, including an Iberian settlement, still abound.

Monda is also home to the most interesting remains of a Roman and Medieval road to be found in the whole of the Sierra de la Nieves region. This is situated some 700 metres from the village itself, on the road to Coin, and compromises three areas: the original Roman construction, a section repaired during Medieval times and a third, more recent stretch that features a series of low steps to accommodate carriages.

Ojen
Between the ranges of the Sierra Blanca and the Sierra Alpujata, in an area of great hydraulic riches, stands Ojen, a picturesque location flanked by mountauinsand sea, a village with a strong Andalusian flavour evident in the layout of its streets, its popular architecture and its abundant flowers.

Though Ojen´s numerous caves were home to settlers as long ago as Neolithic times, it was not until the X century that Islamic chronicles refer to a village whose castle, now destroyed, frequently changed hands in the wake of a series of uprisings, rebellions and conquests. It was subsequently repopulated by Old Christians from the Guadalquivir Valley.

As Ojen enjoys the advantages afforded by its proximityto both the cosmopolitan coast and the rural interior, it ofefrs a myriad of options to the visitor.

Tolox
At the heart of the Sierra de las Nieves stands Tolox, an area of picturesque contrasts with its whitewashed houses and red mountains and home to the famous Torrecilla peak and GESM pothole.


Its origins date back to the Neolithic period, as witnessed by La Tinaja, the cave in which remains of decorated ceramic vessels were found. The village's turbulent history is evident in the few surviving traces of its heritage. Just a few references in street names enable us to reconstruct the layout of what was once the castle, the scene of Moorish rebellions and bloody conflicts between Christians and Muslims.

Yunquera
Home to the largest pine grove in the world, Yunquera owes its name to the large quantities of reeds or juncos that once stood here, which in turn bears witness to the abundance of water in the village.

Possibly of Roman origin, though no traces of this period remain today, this area of great beauty was home to Christian settlers before the arrival of Berber troops in the VII century.

Of the castle-fortress that once dominated this mountain landscape, only the tower now remains, rising majestically above Yunquera itself and affording views of its breathtaking natural setting.

Sierra de la Nieves - Biosphere Reserve

The Sierra de la Nieves is surrounded by a belt of nine villages, all of which are bound by common characteristics and history that have served to create a region with a strong local identity within the province of Malaga.

Situated in strategic locations, much of their charm is derived from the architecture of their old village centres, which is based on the Arabic model. The visitor can best appreciate the villages by losing himself in their winding, maze like streets and admiring their whitewashed houses. The arrival of the Christians saw the introduction of large squares and straight streets. As a result, in addition to fountains and plants, these mountain villages still retain the typical low walls built to level out the land and facilitate acess to houses built on slopes.

As far as fauna is concerned, the Sierra de las Nieves boasts a number of indigenous species of great importance, as well as being a key port of call on the migratory routes of many birds.

Numerically speaking, the invertebrates are the largest group to be found in one area. One such creature worthy of special mention by virtue of both its peculiarity and its heavy dependance on the Spanish fir for its survival is the small butterfly known as the Dioryctria.

Fish such as barbel, bogue, rainbow trout, carp and black bass will delight anglers in locations such as the River Verde reservoir in Istan, where they co-exist alongside amphibians such as the San Antonio frog, the running toad and the speckled newt.

A wilder, more exotic touch is provided by reptiles such as the freshwater tortoise, the snake and the snub-nosed viper, as well as Iberian birds of prey, notably the golden eagle, the tawny vulture, the goshawk, the sparrowhawk and the peregrine falcon, while bats are the most significant of the cave dwellers. However, standing proudly on the mountain peaks, pride of place among all of these species goes to the mountain goat.

The Biosphere Reserve

Locations rich in natural beauty, ecosystems to be found nowhere else in the world and the habitat of extremely rare animal species as the mountain goat. These were just a few of the reasons that led UNESCO to declare the Sierra de la Nieves Biosphere Reserve on the 15th June, 1995. Proof of the importance of UNESCO's MAB programme was provided by the award of the prestigious Prince of Asturias Harmony Prize in 2001.

This living showcase, a model of co-existence between man and nature, encompasses both the Natural Park itself and the surrounding area, a total of 93,930 hectares. It consists of the entire municipal area of the villages of Alozaina, Casarabonela, El Burgo, Guaro, Istan, Monda, Ojen, Parauta, Tolox, Yunquera and part of Ronda.

Its geological complexity means that the area is home to a number of sharply contrasting landscapes. So, on the one hand we have the white limestone rock of the Sierras Blancas, karstic formations, teeming with canyons, caves, galleries and potholes, and on the other, the red of the Sierra Bermejas. The former is home to two of the deepest potholes in Andalusia which are also among the largest in Europe: GESM and El Aire.

Apart from its unique geographical relief, the characteristic that best typifies this International Reserve is its rich flora. The combination of different climatic conditions that prevail here mean that it is home to a variety of species, ranging from sub-tropical examples such as the palmetto and the arbutus to forests or confiers. Spanish fir groves, mountain gall oaks and laburnums.

However, star billing, botanically speaking, in this mountain range (and, indeed, pride of place overall, along with the mountain goat) must go to the Spanishg fir. Its conical form and dark green colour make it unmistakable among the multitude of other species to be found in the region, which include a wide variety of pines, the yew tree, the holm oak, the cork oak and a number of roiver-bank species, not forgetting the mountain gall oak. Colour and beauty are provided by the flowers that grow in the mountains, such as the peony, the mountain rose, the foxglove, the orchid, the iris and the narcissus.

The Spanish Fir

The pinsapo, as it is known in Spanish, is a conifer belonging to the fir tree family whose origins date back to the end of the last glacier period and which is considered the oldest of all the indigenous Mediterranean firs. The Sierra de la Nieves is home to the largest concentration of this botanical treasure to be found anywhere in the world. This ancient tree, whose cross shaped branches were once carried as amulets during Corpus Christi processions, is notable for its characteristic pyramidal form, its greyish, slightly cracked bark and its smallm stiff leaves.

A number of curiosities surround this beautiful botanical species, whose varieties include the blue Spanish fir, so called in reference to the bluish hue of its leaves, and the candelabra variety. In fact, it is even thought that the masts of many of the vessels that made up the Spanish Armada weere built from this highly valued wood.

The Snow Sellers

In one profession could be said to have typified the Sierra de la Nieves for centuries, then it would be that of the snow seller. This arduous job began at the end of the winter, when teams of men would spend several days on the highest peaks gathering snow in panniers before taking it to pits, where it was pressed and compacted to form ice. The pits were then covered up until summer, when muleteers with their beasts of burden would transport the ice in large blocks to be sold.

The ice, which was used both to conserve food and medication and to make ice creams, was considered a luxury item and provided an important source of commercial and economic activity in the area. The visitor can still find restored ice pits in the villages of Yunquera and Tolox.

The Queen Of The Peaks

The most typical and representative of all the living species that inhabit the Sierra de la Nieves is without doubt the mountain goat, an animal that teetered on the brink of extinction in the mid XX century, when its numbers shrank to just 20, all of which inhabited the Ojen area.

It was for this reason that the species was granted official protection, the area being declared a National Hunting Reserve in order to facilitate the animal's recovery.

Today, the population comes to some 1,500 goats, the animal is the most prized and diifcult to attain of all Spain's big game prey, not to mention one of the rarest species in the whole world, not being found outside of Spain.

Such is the importance of the animal and the extent to which it is associated with this region that attractive metal statues of this impressive beast can be found both at Puerto Rico viewpoint in Ojen, the viewpoint in Refugio de Juanar and near the health spa in Tolox.

Centro de Iniciatives Turisticas
Malaga Province
Sierra de la Nieves

The Meander Guide

This week I discovered a new magazine called "The Meander Guide" which is a magazine focused on Inland Andalucia and all the activities that are availble to you in and around Andalucia.

Personally, I think Andalucia has been waiting for a magazine such as this for a long time, for those who want to go off and join in activities outdoors, The Meander Guide suits these needs. Giving information on walks, hiking, wall climbing, quad biking, horse riding, golf, hotels, bars, restaurants, bird watching, painting, spa breaks and paintballing!

The magazine has some great hotels and restaurants advertising and some well thought out maps detailing activities that are available. They also include a good guide at the back for "What's On Where".

About The Meander Guide
Delivering a sharp, clerwrly focused view of the wide variety of activities and places of interest to be found in the stunningly beautiful inland areas of the Costa del Sol. This ranges from the gentle pursuits of painting and pottery to the more adventurous of climbing and hot air ballooning.

The Meander Guide wish to develop and meet the needs of their readers along with adding content which will enrich the experience of the visitor. The Meander Guide believe their magazine to be valuable to the residents of the coast and inland areas.

Ronda and the Rugged Landscape

Many visitors to Spain have an image in their mind of rugged mountain landscapes, white villages and castles, agile bullfighters, gypsy flamenco music and dancing. This is Andalusia. Of course everyone has heard of Granada, Córdoba, Seville, or the Costa del Sol but the real Andalusia is to be found on the small inland towns and cities, Ronda for example.

Ronda is only an hour from the Costa del Sol, but is the largest of Andalusia's white villages, known locally as pueblo blancos. Not seeing Ronda would be like visiting Paris and not seeing the Palace at Versaille. A deep gorge known as El Tajo splits Ronda in two, the old Moorish quarter, and the new market town on either side.

Getting to Ronda is easy by car, bus or train, and has the great advantage that despite her population of nearly 50,000 souls the old quarter and centre of town is no more than a 15 minute walk from end to end. The view over the Tajo and Caldera is nothing short of spectacular, as are the old streets with white-washed homes and windows decorated with flowerpots and hanging baskets.

The El Tajo gorge splits Ronda in two, one one side lies the ancient Moorish quarter with its narrow streets and history dating back 8,000 years, whilst on the other side the new market town sprang up on the site of ancient oak forests less than 500 years ago. Sadly the oaks are long gone, but an effort to recreate the relaxing feel of a forest in the heart of the city has been recreated in Alameda park.



Straddling the Tajo is one of Spain's most photographed and iconic monuments, Ronda's Puente Nuevo, a bridge that stands nearly 100m tall, made entirely of rock quarried from the river bed below. The bridge was completed in the late 18th century, around the same time as the bullring, coincidentally by the same architect.

Ronda is almost universally known as the home of modern bullfighting, and Ronda's Plaza de Toros its spiritual home. In fact these days Ronda has only one bullfight per year during the Goyesca Feria held in September, the rest of the year the bullring is open to the public who have the chance to view it's impressive museum.

Resident's of Ronda will happily tell you the Plaza de Toros is the oldest, biggest, and most impressive of all the world's bullrings. In fact it isn't the oldest, though the rueda (the sandy area in the centre) is the world's largest, and the bullring truly is impressive. Even an objective opinion of architectural beauty can't deny Ronda's bullring is special. The entire building was completed in 1785, and is the ring is surrounded by 136 Tuscan stone columns supporting seating for 5,000 spectators.

Away from the bullring and the 'art' of bullfighting, Ronda is a city rich is cultural heritage, the city has been continuously occupied for over 8,000 years making Rondeños a tough breed of mountain folk with a long history. This richness of culture is evident not just in the music or the attitude of the people, but also in the architecture of other buildings which have undergone renovations with every cultural shift the city has experienced.

Visit Ronda's Santa Maria church for a beautiful yet bizarre mixture of architecture spanning the ages. Originally a temple to Diana in Roman times, and possibly an Iberian pagan temple before that, the building became a Christian church in the 5th century, before being destroyed t be replaced by a Mosque for Muslim invaders in 711AD, and then mostly destroyed again in 1485 to make way for a Christian cathedral. An earthquake in the 18th century destroyed the church again, and the current church is an unusually attractive blend of mosque, cathedral and parish church in moorish, renaissance baroque and gothic styles.

Ronda is blessed with several impressive museums, visit the Lara Museum on Calle Armiñan for an eclectic range of exhibits such as torture instruments, sewing machines, bullfighting outfits, clocks, wepons, and much more. Located nearby you'll also find the Bandit Museum with a comprehensive history in exhibits of the bandit years in ronda that started around the time of Napolean's invasion and didn't end till well in the middle of the 20rth century. The highlight however is the Municipal Museum in the Mondragon Palace, with exhibits from paleolithic times to the present including a large exhibit of Roman times in the Serranía.

A day trip into the Serranía will take you to some of the most spectacular and unique eco-systems in Europe, the mountains around Ronda, the Serranía de Ronda. The district has evidence of human habitation going back over 30,000 years with cave paintings at Pileta, dolmen burial chambers at Montecorto, and the ruined Roman city of Acinipo all located less than 10 minutes away from Ronda.

Aside from human endeavours, the Serranía de Ronda is as well known for the spectacular wildlife and flora to be found within her borders. Each spring and autumn the mountains are filled with wild flowers many of them quite unique and endemic to the valleys and mountains. Twenty six varieties of orchid have been discovered in the Grazalema, Alcornocales and Sierra de las Nieves natural parks. Many are only to be found in very small areas, perhaps only a single valley, and are now protected plants. The Serranía de Ronda is also known for being one of the last remaining sanctuaries of the Pinsapo, also known as the Spanish Fir.

Birdwatching is a pleasure and a joy in the Serranía, with the district being home to local birds as well as situated on the main path of Europe's migrating birds. Getting out and enjoying nature is very easy in the Serranía, almost everywhere is accessible on wonderful nature walks, though the Serranía is also a great place to cycle and keep fit whilst appreciating nature. The Serranía's many small villages are located on all of the main walking and cycling tracks, so lunch and refreshments are never far.

Gardening Pests and Diseases

Aphids
Colonies of small round-bodied insects suck the sap from leaves and distort plant growth. They excrete a sticky honeydew on which sooty moulds grow, and can also spread viruses. Aphids, which are mostly wingless, may be black, green, pink, red, yellow or variously coloured.

Danger Period
Spring and early summer in the open, but any time of the year under glass or indoors.

Treatment
Outdoors or in a greenhouse, spray thoroughly with systemic insecticide such as heptenophos, or with non-systemic insecticides such as malathion, pirimicarb, fenitrothion or derris. Inside the house, use derris only. Encourage predators such as beetles, ladybirds (you can get from some garden centres), bluetits, hoverflies and praying mantis.

If I ever find a praying mantis on my terrace I pick him up and place on my roses or trees so he can eat all the baddies :)

Scale Insects
Particulalry troublesome on greenhouse and houseplants, but also ornamental shrubs, trees and fruit grown outside.

Recognition
Brown, yellow or white scales - flat or oval - mainly on the underside of leaves and clustered alongside the veins and on the stems

Danger Period
Late spring or early summer outdoors, but at any time of the year when under glass

Treatment
Spray with pirimiphos-methyl, heptenophos & permethrin, or malathion three times at twp-week intervals. Alternatively, gently remove scales by hand or with a soft toothbrush, or spray insecticidal soap.

If you have any bark breaking then you need to cut out the dead wood, remove loose bark to reveal a clean wound. Feed, mulch and water the tree properly and the wound should heal naturally.

Do not have irrigation pipes close to the roots, let the water run to the plant rather than right at it!

Do you have any spotting on the leaves of the tree?
Try watering during dry spells and muching the trees, this is common after a drought.

Fruit - Drop
If your fruit has dropped from your tree early then this would be a classic sign that pollinators are not in your garden, feed, mulch and water the tree. If you are experiencing fruit drop in cold seasons then this means poor pollination and nothing can be done until the following season.

Honey Fungus
This can affect most trees and shrubs. Common among rotting tree stumps, some herbaceous perennials and some bulbs.

Recognition
Toad stools at soil level at the base of the trunk. White fan-shaped growths of fungus occur beneath the bark of roots and at soil level. Black ´bootlace´threads on diseased roots spread infection.

Danger Period
Autumn

Treatment
Destroy dead or dying plants and as many roots as possible. Sterilise the soil with a phenolic compund such as Armillatox. The ´bootlaces´do not necessarily mean disaster. Many species of the fungus are not invasive.

Nitrogen Deficiency
All types, but most commonly fruit trees and vegetables.

Recognition
The young leaves turn pale yellow-green, and later develop yellow, red or purple tints. the plants are small, stunted and lack vigour.

Danger Period
Growing season

Treatment
Use nitrogenous fetiliser such as blood, fish and bone or sulphate of ammonia in spring. Improve soil structure and fertility generally. For a quick result, water with a liquid feed or apply a nitrogen-rich foliar feed. A temporary definciency can arise in cold weather, but it will disappear as the soil warms up.

If you have advice where you can purchase these fertilisers or treatments, please let us know so we can forward to our readers

Thanks

Wild Food - Foraging!

Forgaing for food is becoming increasingly popular once more. We quite often walk down our track in the country and come back laden with bits we have found growing by the side of a field or Almonds that are just there for the taking on the trees.

Everything from Wild Garlic, mushrooms, nuts, oranges, blackberries, raspberries, edible weeds - there are tons of free food out there if you just get out of the house and go look :)

Autumn is the traditional time for harvest, when the efforts of months of hard graft finally pay off! In Spain you see the farmers out there in he field during the months of Autumn picking their food either for sale of for their families - home grown food is so much better than supermarket bought food.

However, these days we tend to rely on our food being cultivated in greenhouses whatever the season. In Spain we still only get fruit and vegetables that are in season, it is getting more common these days to see out of season fruit and vegetables - look at what the market is demanding!

Reconnecting with the old ways of hunter gathering, foraging is taking off once more. In Britain's and Spain's woods and fields, there's a bountiful harvest of vegetables and fruits to be had - all growing naturally without intervention from human hand or industrial fertiliser.

From wild garlic to berries and nuts, there are plenty of mouth watering ingredients to be had, whether you live in town or country you will be amazed at what you can find, all for free - well that is until the government catch on to this and ecide to tax it LOL!

You can also help the environment by forgaring, there's nothing shorter on food miles or more sustainable than fresh produce that's already growing indigenously in your neighbourhood. What's more, sourcing food from a country walk or perhaps beside your local canal is a lot more exciting that a trip to your local supermarket, healthier for the family and fun too.

Apart from all that you will start to notice seasons more as you watch your local areas transform from Winter/Autumn to Spring/Summer.

You can even try your hand at making chutneys and jams from the fruit you find and learn something new while you are at it :)

Wild mushrooms - puffballs friend in garlic butter with a bit of black better are divine! Wild garlic, nettles and elderflowers are common in the wild, you can make ice creams or codials with these ingredients.

Miles Irving has been foraging for years and now makes a living finding wild herbs and plants for top chefs keen to source unique ingredients that are fresh and local
from root to tip. Jamie Oliver is a former customer of his company - check him out online. Miles Irving Foraging

During times when families are on the look out to save money and do activities that do not break the bank, an afternoon of foraging is fun and educational for all the family. Teach your kids where REAL food comes from - not fast food joints like McDonalds or Burger King.

However, before you can go off foraging, it would be good to know what you are looking for, you don´t want to go out picking mushrooms if you don´t know what you are looking for as this could be potentially dangerous for all concerned - below I have listed some good books to buy. You just need to check that what you are picking is safe.

Miles Irving has a new gook out called "The Forager Handbook", a guide to Britain's edible plants, or Food for Free.

About The Forager Handbook

At any time, in any place, food is there for the taking - if only we knew how and where to look. Miles Irving makes his living out of foraging - in this unique, authentic guide, he reveals the how, why, what and where of this lost art, a way of life that is becoming increasingly popular as more and more of us pursue an eco-friendly and sustainable lifestyle. This ground-breaking handbook tells you how to recognize the rich possibilities that surround us, whether in the city or countryside. From waste ground to woodland, from cliff top to coast land, plants flourish year in, year out. Spring is when wild garlic flourishes in shady woodlands; summer is the time for marsh samphire in the salt-marshes; autumn heralds an abundance of fruits and nuts; . Many of these plants - nettles, dandelions, fat hen, sorrel - grow so profusely they are considered a nuisance. Yet they offer fantastic food possibilities and are rich in nutrients. Assiduously researched, packed with information and enlivened with anecdotes and more than 330 photographs, "The Forager Handbook" is a milestone publication marking the way forward for the future of British food. And for each plant family, Miles gives ideas for using foraged ingredients in the kitchen. With recipes from some of the most exciting chefs working in Britain today, including Sam and Sam Clark, Mark Hix and Richard Corrigan, and coverage of techniques like drying, pickling and making cordials, this book will take readers on a voyage of discovery. Foraging was something our ancestors did instinctively - this book truly connects us with our past and our future. Discover a secret world of edible possibilities - all freely available.

A classic foraging book by Richard Mabey titled "Food for Free" which is still in print some 30 years after it was first published.

About Food for Free

Fans of Food for Free will be delighted at this new format -- ideal for carrying in a rucksack. Over 100 edible plants are featured together with recipes and other interesting culinary information. With details on how to pick, when to pick and regulations on picking. This new format of a best-selling title provides a portable guide for all those who enjoy what the countryside has to offer. Over 100 plants are listed, fully illustrated and described, together with recipes and other fascinating information about their use throughout the ages. The recipes are listed so that you can plan your foray with a feast in mind. This is the ideal book for both nature-lovers and cooks. Particularly with today's emphasis on the freshest and most natural of foods. There is also practical advice on how to pick plus the countryside laws and regulations on picking wild plants.

If you are looking for a more hands on experience then you can have an unforgettable day out with the Forage Rangers, Xa Milne and Fiona Houston. Their mission is to help people have fun outdoors hunting for wild foods anywhere plants can grow, from city parks, to country waysides and the seashore, and, as importantly, show you how to turn this wild food into delicious dishes and drinks.

They are the authors of the highly acclaimed Seaweed and Eat It - this is a family foraging journal and cooking adventure for all the family.

About Seaweed And Eat It

This is the foodie's answer to "The Dangerous Book for Boys", and a nostalgic journey of rediscovery for the whole family. Part cookbook, part natural history guide, with tasty recipes, fascinating folklore and inspiring ideas for seasonal feasts, "Seaweed" leads the reader through the process of identifying, learning about and cooking unusual and wild native foods. From discovering edible wild plants and flowers, to creating delicious seasonal feasts, "Seaweed" puts the fun into foraging and injects a sense of adventure into preparing dinner. For anyone interested in the origins of their food - or who's shocked by the price of elderflower cordial - this inspirational cookbook will ensure mealtimes are never dull.

Protocol for Foraging
Do not overpick, pick small amounts to preserve the plant
Pick locally from common land
Do not pick from same areas all the time, to lessen your impact
Do not pick from protected areas such as wildlife reserves, sites of SSSI
Private land would require permission
Do not eat or pick it if you cannot clearly identify the food source
Take seeds and try growing in your own garden
Choose a foraging area and familiarise yourself with as much as you can
No Trespassing!
Do not pick endangered or protected species (local library can provide regulations)

Getting Started with Foraging
Start by picking the easy stuff like dandelions and nettles. Collect some rosehips and make syrup which can be used to put in ice cream

Gardening UK, Moving & House Clearance

Hi its Gill

Sorry I didn´t get time to do a blog last week, there is too much to do with the moving, let alone blogs.I am moving house as you know if you follow me already, but this is the most stressful move I have ever done. When you are widowed you feel so alone and unable to cope, maybe its because I am now a pensioner. I hate saying that because I am so young in my head it just doesn´t seem right! The trouble is that I need to get back to Four Marks because my daughter is having my second grandchild next spring and I had wanted to be living nearer her.

I could afford a flat but would die without a garden!!! I am about £30,000 short for a small house. I have looked in neighbouring Alton but the ones I can afford are in such rough areas and yes I am may be being a snob but I don´t want to live there. I just don´t know what to do and would love some feedback from you all if possible.

The only alternative I can see is to buy on a pensioners mobile home estate. The houses are lovely but everyone has white hair and I dont feel ready to retire to a place like that. I had thought that maybe I could buy a small piece of land in Four Marks for £100,000 and put a wooden mobile home on it. Unfortunately all the builders gobble up any land available!!!!!

The garden is still a nightmare of a mess but I do intend to get it straight for the new people, they have 3 children and they will be wanting to play out there.

I did go out with Irene and Wendy on Wednesday to a garden centre, I would have gone insane if I hadnt got out of the house. We went to Secretts in Godalming. This is a nice place to go because they have a good range of shrubs, flowers, bulbs, Christmas stuff, and nice food. The only bad thing I have to say about them is that their bedding pansies and violas were £3.49 for 6 and they are £2.99 in most places.

On the way home we went into Hilliers in Liss because I wanted a bag of grit for my cacti. They didnt have their Christmas stuff out which was a shame because we cannot resist buying decorations. The tables holding the flowers outside looked absolutely lovely, a miriad of colours everywhere you looked, very nicely presented.

Well all I can say with the gardening is to make the most of this lovely weather and carry on clearing away all the spent plants and generally tidying up.

I will do my best to do a blog next week but know you will forgive me if I don´t get time. Take care all, happy gardening. Luv Gill xx