Saturday, 24th March 2007

Rare Maltese Toadflax (linaria pseudolaxiflora) at Majjesa

Unlike the previous day's wintry wet weather Saturday the 24th produced decent spring sun with a cool west wind - perfect rambling weather in fact. The group of around twenty-six was made up just about equally of Maltese and Scottish ramblers (with a couple of Englishmen for good measure). As always this walk sets off with the crossing of one of Malta's largest garigue areas, Xaghra l-Hamra, the subject of much controversy over the last year with government's ill advised plans to construct an 18 hole golf course on this rich and almost pristine site. Thankfully it seems these plans have been abandoned even though government sources have officially kept their silence on this matter.

View of the Majjesa coast

A brief description of garigue habitat was made by Joseph Buhagiar (curator at Argotti botanical gardens) who explained the rich diversity of this habitat. As if to reinforce this fact ramblers soon discovered a very small patch of linaria pseudolaxiflora (Maltese Todflax / Papocci ta Malta) - a very rare sub-endemic plant present only in Malta and the nearby Italian islands of Linosa and Lampedusa.

Going down to the boulder scree

The group then made its way over the rock-cut steps that lead on to the very scenic and varied boulder scree bordering the sea. The going here is mostly on rough terrain with remnants of some ancient walls and what appear to be abandoned animal pens in places. Best of all is the large population of coronilla valentina (Shrubby Crown Vetch / Koronilla) which graces the boulder scree very near its end, before the terrrain becomes primarily a series of clay slopes.

The colours of Spring at Ras il-Wahx

Regaining the garigue again through an old British military road, the Maltese group bid farewell to the Scots who made their way to Golden Bay for a spot of lunch. The locals continued on a path going past the ruins of the original farmhouse hamlet of Manikata back to the morning's meeting point.