Menorca

Wednesday 18^th to Wednesday 25^th March

Leader: John Wakely

John is offering three opportunities for members to join him in Menorca to enjoy getting to know the flora of this beautiful island. John writes as follows:

“Menorca, the least developed of the Balearic islands, is a blaze of colour between February and June. A variety of habitats means that it boasts an exceptional flora. I have been fortunate to explore the Island over the last decade and have a working knowledge of most Menorcan plants and where they might be found. The flowering season is 6-8 weeks ahead of the UK. I will be visiting the island several times in Spring 2026 and would be delighted to share my enthusiasm for this beautiful island, awarded UNESCO ‘Reserva de la biosphere’ status. If there is sufficient interest I will organise up to 3 WFS trips for groups of about 10 next year 18-25 Mar, 15-22 April and 13-20 May. There are cheap direct flights from the UK at these times. Although most hotels won’t open until May, self-contained accommodation is available at excellent rates. Cars will be necessary. Sharing a couple of apartments and transport would seem to make sense. I would envisage planning daily trips, some of which would involve several miles of walking paths which can be rocky and moderately steep in parts, although easier routes could be suggested. There will be plenty to see at all of these times, with lots of overlap. March is the best time for the orchids whilst most of the hedgehog plants, characteristic of the windswept cliffs, and many of the plants found in the gorges are in flower in May. The island is a popular destination for birders and also boasts the highest density of archaeological sites in Europe (many of which are good for plants). None of my family share my passion, so I have previously taken some of my local group and a few WFS members. The language barrier (Catalan being the first language), and the lack of a Flora for the island means that naming some species can be a challenge and I look forward to some help. If you are interested, please get in touch with the Meetings Secretary Janet John at the address below”

To book or to register interest contact Janet John wfs.meetings@gmail.com