The Alameda

Gibraltar Botanic Gardens

 

GARDEN NEWS

 

 

26 February 2010

Palm Tree Weevil Hits Gibraltar

A pest that has destroyed thousands of palm trees around the Mediterranean has now claimed its first casualty in Gibraltar.  The red palm weevil, a native of south-east Asia has been spreading down the Mediterranean coast of Spain over the past few years. 

A single adult palm weevil - a type of beetle - was found in the Rosia area last summer. Yesterday experts from the Gibraltar Botanic Gardens confirmed that the death of a palm Phoenix canariensis in the grounds of Sacred Heart School, whose staff had alerted the Department of the Evironment to the presence of the tree, was the result of a heavy infestation of the beetles.   Two other palms in the grounds are also affected.  Steps are now being taken to remove and incinerate the dead palm and treat the other two trees. Sadly the fate of most palm trees of the genus Phoenix - which are the most common and picturesque found in Gibraltar - is probably sealed unless urgent action is taken. 

Some sites in Gibraltar owe much of their charm to palms or have tall, old specimens of great character.  These include Line Wall Promenade, the Mount, the Supreme Court, The Convent, Glacis, and Line Wall Synagogue. There are some treatments which are successful in saving infected palms,but preventative measures can be more effective.  What is certain is thattreatment is more cost-effective than eventual removal due to death.  This is frequently highlighted in affected areas of Spain.

The Botanic Gardens commenced a programme of treatment of all the palms within the Alameda last year with a view to protecting all the ones within the Gardens.   This programme will continue and the Gardens' experts, as consultants to Government on trees, will continue to provide advice as required.

    The Red Palm Weevil  Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Olivier,

     emerging from its pupal case                                                   K. Bensusan

 

19 February 2010

 

Parrots Stolen From Wildlife Park

Mr Feathers, an African Grey parrot that was

undergoing specialist treatment

There was a recent theft of five parrots from the Alameda Wildlife Conservation Park.  Thieves broke in during the night and managed to take a combination of African Grey and Timneh Grey Parrots from their enclosures.  Some of the parrots were expected to breed this year.

All the parrots were from the original two consignments in ships from Africa confiscated by Gibraltar Customs officials over ten years ago.  Some were in need of special care and on special diets and so it is unlikely that they will survive.

The Botanic Gardens management condemns this action, which will lead to suffering for the animals.  It comes at a time when the park is undergoing much development and improvement in both its animal care and its educational value.

The public is asked to co-operate and report sightings of grey parrots in any property where they have not seen them before.

 

18 January 2010

New Trees for Old

 

A programme has started this winter to replace the Pine Trees at the Botanic Gardens.   

      

     Old and new Stone Pines at the Alameda

The traditional look of the Alameda Gardens is predominantly that of a Mediterranean pine wood.  This is because, when the gardens were first laid out between 1814 and their opening in 1816, the Stone Pine was one of the main species used.

These pines have now matured into fine specimens, and provide the greater part of the canopy of the gardens, more so that the other main species, the Olives and Dragon Trees.

However, these trees are now about 200 years old and past their prime.  A number have been lost in recent years during winter storms, when their weight and the fact that they tend to tilt westwards towards the light have proved too much for them.  Others have lost branches. Stone Pines cannot resprout from cut branches and so these will tend to be permanently mutilated.

Because for a large part of their history there was little forward planning when it came to planting in the Alameda, there was in the past no scheme for gradual replacement of these fine pine trees.  This has resulted in the risk that, at the current rate, all the pines trees could be lost in the next ten to twenty years.

In order to retain the classical look of the Alameda, a programme of planting Stone Pines has commenced this winter, with six young trees being planted close to the bases of some of the oldest ones.  These will be cared for and should thrive, being ready to replace the existing ones as the giants of the Alameda pass slowly away.

Note:  The Stone Pine is the species that produces “piñones”, or pine nuts.  The wooded character of the Alameda that these trees provide serves to attract some species of birds, like Hoopoes on migration, or the Tawny Owl, which is now a resident in the Botanic Gardens. 

   A Tawny Owl at Jews' Gate, Gibraltar.         This species is now resident in the Gardens.                                                                             Photo Terry Cooper

 

12 December 2009

Alameda Theatre Beauty is Miss World!

      Kaiane Aldorino, now Miss World, just after her crowning in the Alameda

Open Air Theatre, with the Minister for Culture, the Hon Edwin Reyes,

and the other contestants       Photo: Luis Photos

On a warm summer's afternoon, on the 27th June 2009, a young Gibraltarian, Kaiane Aldorino, came into the Alameda Gardens to take part in a beauty pageant.  Hours later, she left as Miss Gibraltar 2009.  Weeks and months of work and rehearsals with Santos Productions  had resulted in a dream come true.

Truly the Alameda Open Air Theatre is a theatre of dreams.  Its unique setting and beauty are the ideal stage for a beauty pageant and for converting dreams into reality.

Little did Kaiane know that the dream was not over yet.

A little after six months following her first crowning, on another stage many hundreds of kilometres away in South Africa, she was crowned Miss World.  It was her proudest moment, and one of Gibraltar's proudest ever.

A beautiful young lady, with a natural, unassuming personality, who it was a pleasure to have around the Open Air Theatre last summer and who will do Gibraltar even prouder in the coming year.

Not many Botanic Gardens around the world can have the distinction of having had a future Miss World take the first steps there!

Congratulations, Kaiane.  Those of us in the Alameda Gardens who were so pleased to host you when you became Miss Gibraltar wish you every success and happiness.

Footnote:  Kaiane's success is resulting in publicity for the Open Air Theatre too, which is referred to in numerous on-line reports about Miss World, many of which carry links to our website. 

 

24 November 2009

Palm work commences

The Red Palm Weevil, a large beetle originating in the south-east Asia has now been seen in Gibraltar.  It arrived in eastern Spain with a consignment of palms some years ago and has been spreading steadily south along the Mediterranean coast killing palms as it goes, and changing many landscapes in urban planted areas, parks and gardens.

Once it takes hold it can be virtually impossible to save the palm tree.  It attacks mainly Canary Island Date Palms, of which there are very many in Gibraltar.  Weevils are already killing palms in Algeciras and the first one in Gibraltar was found near Rosia several months ago.

New methods are being developed to tackle this problem, and the Gibraltar Botanic Gardens is in contact with experts elsewhere in an attempt to pre-empt the destruction of our palms.

In the meantime, the palm trees within the Botanic Gardens are being tackled, by pruning and spraying with a strong pesticide, to try to ensure that at least within the Alameda the palm trees survive.

Involved in the palm rescue project are Jon Hammerton, formerly of Kew,, horticulturist Andrew Abrines and Felix Bandres, who recently attended a week-long training course in palm care in Spain.

Note:  Pesticides are not normally used with the Alameda Gardens which have an environment-friendly policy.  It is only in specific situations and under very closely controlled conditions that chemicals are used.  The protection of these large specimen palms is one such exceptional situation.

Jon Hammerton at a Palm                         Felix Bandres on the training course

 

19 July 2009

Databasing of Moroccan Plants

underway at the Alameda

Apteranthes europaea from Morocco                                    K. Bensusan/GONHS

An initiative spearheaded by the Gibraltar Botanic Gardens has  received considerable coverage in botanical magazines.  Dr Keith  Bensusan of the Gardens' Research and Collections division is  coordinating an effort to database information on Moroccan succulent  plants that are kept in the collections of Botanic Gardens and  prominent private collectors.

Many habitats in Morocco are under threat due to degradation.  The  arid habitats of the country include an interesting variety of  succulent plants, including some species that are endemic (i.e., found  only in) Morocco.  Management of plants kept in collections is  important when these are rare in the wild and their native habitats  are threatened.  The Alameda specialises in succulent plants.   Furthermore, researchers at the Gardens have excellent links with  academic institutions in Morocco, developed as a result of their collaboration within the recently-completed Interreg IIIA Gibraltar-Morocco Programme run by the Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society and the Scientific Institute of the University of Rabat-Agdal.  It is therefore ideally placed to  coordinate an effort to manage Moroccan plants and encourage research  and conservation in one of our neighbouring countries.

The aims of the scheme include:

  •         to collate data on Moroccan succulent plants kept in collections
  •         to establish a network of institutions and private collectors who  keep     collections of Moroccan succulents.
  •         to encourage exchange of data and live plant material between members
  •         to manage populations in cultivation so that genetic diversity and  rigour is maintained
  •         to encourage publication of information relevant to the ecology,  biogeography, evolution and conservation of Moroccan succulents
  •         to encourage liason with Moroccan scientific institutions to promote  research and conservation of Moroccan succulents in situ.

'El Botánico', the magazine of the Asociación Ibero-Macaronésica de  Jardines Botánicos (of which the Alameda is a member) includes an  article on the initiative, inviting other Botanic Gardens which hold  succulent plants from Morocco to join the network.  A similar  advertisement is included in the latest issue of the journal of the  International Asclepiad Society.  Morocco hosts a range of succulent  asclepiad plants, including some that are endemic.  Further articles  will appear on the subject in other magazines and journals, in due  course.

The initiative is still in its preparatory stages, but it has already  attract interest and participation from institutions and private  individuals, some of whom are authorities on Moroccan succulent flora.

 

Part of the article in "El Botanico"

 

 

13 July 2009

Birds give thumbs up to

Mediterranean woodland project

          Spotted Flycatcher - nesting successfully in the Gardens,

          a first for Gibraltar                                                Photo: C.Perez/GONHS

A project to create a Mediterranean woodland at the northern entrance to the Garden has been given the seal of approval by birds! 

The area north of the succulent beds, which stretches along the eastern edge of Grand Parade, has been gradually modified by selective planting over th past 18 years.  Native woodland species have been planted and, as these have grown, exotic trees and shrubs have been selectively removed, always leaving the wooded character of the area intact.

So far, native Mediterranean plants to have become established include Narrow-leaved Ash, Mirbech's Oak, Cork Oak, Round-leaved Oak and Strawberry Tree.  False Acacias, Trees of Heaven, Lantana and Myoporum have been progressively removed.  The area is given minimum management and the ground cover is allowed to develop as naturally as possible.

There are still a good number of years to go before all the exotics are replaced, but a recent development has encouraged the team involved in the project.  The area has this year been chosen by a pair of Spotted Flycatchers, which successfully nested there - for the first time in Gibraltar, fledging at least two young over this last weekend - as reported on the Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society (GONHS) website.  These woodland edge birds seem to have accepted the changes as a positive move towards their natural habitat! 

In recent years Robins have also been present through the summer in the same area, and recently Bonelli's Warblers, another woodland species, have been noted there too.

In another part of the gardens the nightly presence of Tawny Owls also suggests nesting of this species may be taking place within the Gardens.

The increase in the number of bird species nesting within the Alameda is most welcome and seems to be a sign that management techniques employed are benefiting the natural communities of the area.

 

30 June 2009

Open Air Theatre excels in beauty

Regardless of your views on beauty pageants or musical theatre, the Miss Gibraltar 2009 contest on Saturday 27th June showed the Alameda Open Air Theatre (an integral part of the botanic gardens) at its best.  The natural beauty of the setting went extremely well with the theme, which featured "goddesses" of earth, air, water and fire, and with the bright and varied colours of costumes and evening dresses.

Kaiane Aldorino was crowned Miss Gibraltar, and will now go on to represent Gibraltar in the Miss World Contest in December.

The theatre had been brought to its usual high standard of maintenance, with the pond in particular featuring the best show of  water lilies for many years.   A scene where the dancers stepped on to the pond surface and appeared to walk on the water was particularly impressive.

The Pageant was produced by Santos Productions for the Gibraltar Ministry of Culture .

       Dancing on water                                                 Photos: Luis photos, Gibraltar

 

29 June 2009

Morocco Research Published

       Succulent Euphorbia habitat in Morocco                        Photo: K.Bensusan

The latest issue of the journal of the International Asclepiad  Society, 'Asklepios', carries an important article by staff members of  the Gibraltar Botanic Gardens who formed part of the Gibraltar  Ornithological & Natural History Society (GONHS) research team which  visited the south of Morocco last autumn.  An article entitled 'On the  distribution and habits of Apteranthes joannis (Maire) Plowes',  authored by Keith Bensusan, Brian Lamb and Charles Perez, discusses  the current state of knowledge of a species of succulent plant that is  endemic to (i.e., found only in) Morocco.  Apteranthes joannis, which  was until recently known as Caralluma joannis, was thought only to  occur at a single site between the High and Anti Atlas mountains  ranges, where it grows on limestone cliffs.  However, the team located  this very rare plant at two new sites in the Anti Atlas mountain  range, expanding its known distribution considerably.  The article  discusses the find and expands knowledge of the ecology of Apteranthes  joannis considerably.  It also discusses the conservation of the  species and outlines areas of future research.

'Euphorbia World', the journal of the International Euphorbia Society,  also included a short article by Keith Bensusan and Brian Lamb in  their last issue.  The article is entitled 'An Epiphytic Euphorbia  echinus Hook.f. & Coss. in the Anti Atlas of Morocco'.  Euphorbia  echinus is also endemic to the southwest of Morocco.  It is a thorny,  Cactus-like spurge that grows in arid, rocky habitats.  The article  cites the first record of the species growing on the trunk of a tree.   The tree in question, the Argan Argania spinosa, is likewise a  speciality of the south of Morocco.  It is of considerable economic  value to locals, who use oil extracted from the nuts to produce a  range of products, from very tasty cooking and dressing oil to  cosmetic products.

Research carried out by the GONHS in Morocco formed part of a  collaborative project between the Society and the Institut  Scientifique de Rabat (Morocco), which received INTERREG IIIA funding from the EU.

 Apteranthes joannis                                                    Photo:  K.Bensusan

 

 

21 June 2009

Summer Flowering Trees surround
the Miss Gibraltar Pageant

A stunning view from the Alameda Open Air Theatre

Gibraltar moves on from the Spring Festival into Summer and from the Calentita Evening it looks a week ahead to the next item on the Special Events Calendar, the Miss Gibraltar Pageant, at the Alameda Open Air Theatre next Saturday.  At a time when Gibraltarian beauty is celebrated, we remind people of the natural beauty of the venue in the Gibraltar Botanic Gardens.

Transformed last Thursday into an enchanted forest, the set of Urban Dance’s Illumina, written and choreographed for the Theatre, so the natural beauty of summer flowers must be highlighted.  The Theatre pond itself boasts the best display of water lilies for many years.

Also flowering at the moment in the Alameda is the stunning Australian Flame Tree, only for the second time in its life, as it only bursts into flaming colour every five years.  In flower too are white and pink Oleander, turquoise-blue Jacaranda, sparkling pink bottle brushes and Albizzia, and pale blue Cape Chestnut.

Most of these flowering trees adorn the Upper Walk and the Dell, and stand out against the greens of the evergreen trees, contrasting with the dryness of the summer on the ground.

While Gibraltar enjoys the Miss Gibraltar Pageant, let’s not forget the natural colours and beauty than can be found, year round, in our Botanic Gardens.

Photographs of most of these trees, and other flowers out now, can be found here

       

Flame Tree, Oleander and Jacaranda are at their best now

 

11 May 2009

 

Wildlife Park Open Day Success

The Alameda Wildlife Conservation Park held their second ever Open “Fun” Day on Sunday 10th May, in combination with a bird of prey display in aid of the Lions Club run by GONHS at the Alameda Open Air Theatre.  With much promotion and media coverage of the day it was set to be a very busy occasion.  After Saturday’s showery weather, the Alameda woke to a glorious sunny day, much to the relief of staff at the Park.

The event began promptly at 12 noon, with many fun seekers arriving early, while the birds of prey were already in full swing, with eagles and hawks on static display and flying demonstrations.

The turn out on the day was fantastic, the Reception and balcony area were flooded with families enjoying the sunshine and indulging in activities such as face painting, bouncy castle, and lucky dip, while others were taken on tours around the Park by staff and volunteers.

The staff and management at the Park would like to thank all the staff, volunteers and visitors for their efforts and generosity on the day.  Fun was had by all, including the animals, who seemed to enjoy the extra attention, care having been taken that they were not stressed by the influx of visitors..

The organisers would also lke to thank all the local companies for their generous donations of raffle prizes.  These are listed below.

Signed cookbook donated by Ainsley Harriot, Gibmaroc, Accesorize, Glass House, The Silver Shop, BHS, Galaxy, Garcia’s, Out of Africa, Pashmina, Vijay’s, Roller Pet Shop, ICC Pet Shop, Omni, Star of India, Music Corner, Tommy Hilfiger, 888.com, Morrison’s, Botanic Gardens Nature Shop, Gibraltar Bookshop, S.M. Seruya, Joost, Photography Centre, The Clipper, Niche Gallery.

The funds raised will go towards improving the park for the animals and for the visitors.  For more information on future plans for the park and upcoming projects please visit the website at www.alamedawildlifepark.org/Strategic.Plan.pdf.

Still on is the photography competition, the deadline for which has been extended to Friday 29 May.  All pictures must be of animals seen in the Park.  Prizes include a Lion print kindly donated by Simon King (of the BBC’s Wildcat Diaries) and framed by Terry’s Arts and Supplies.

The Garden’s management were particularly pleased at the use made by the public of the Alameda Gardens, and will plan more activities of a similar kind for the future, as the Garden aims at its 200th anniversary in 2016.

Meanwhile, in order to ensure continuing interest, nine piglets were born in the Wildlife Park on Monday morning!


 

3 May 2009

 

New flower blooms in Gardens

The first flower of Dianthus caryophyllus in the Alameda

Plant conservation work at the Gibraltar Botanic Gardens contiunues to hit success, with the flowering for the first time in the Alameda of a wild Pink, or Carnation, Dianthus caryophyllus.  Once quite common on the Upper Rock, the relentless growth of vegetation due both to natural succession and to changes in the way firebreaks are  managed, has resulted in open areas being covered with dense matorral in which this species cannot survive.  The Pink therefore became progressively rarer, to the point that two years ago it was feared extinct in Gibraltar. 

Then a plant was found in the “Jungle” and seeds collected by Freddie Gomez and Priscilla Serfaty and given to the Botanic Gardens.  Shortly after that, several plants were found at the base of the North Face by a GONHS team carrying out a survey for the Gibraltar Biodiversity Project, near the former Shell Depot, and seeds were also collected.  Seeds from all of these plants were sown at the Botanic Gardens, and the young plants cared for until they were planted out late last year.  Now they have flowered for the first time.

The Wild Pinks can be seen flowering at the Grand Parade entrance to the Gardens, in the Gibraltar bed, where two species unique to Gibraltar are currently also in flower, the Gibraltar Campion Silene tomentosa, and the Gibraltar Chickweed, Cerastium gibraltaricum, also grown from seed in the Alameda.  The Alameda’s success in growing rare native species is playing a vital role in conserving Gibraltar’s biodiversity, but is no substitute for plants growing in the wild, and the re-establishment of viable populations in the wild must follow, provided suitable habitat is available.

  Cerastium gibraltaricum in the Gibraltar Bed by the George Don Gates

 

1 May 2009

 

Former Kew man joins our team

The Gibraltar Botanic Gardens have been joined by one of the world’s foremost tree experts.  Jon Hammerton, who worked at the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew for 20 years has left the UK to settle in Gibraltar and work at the Alameda Gardens.

Jon Hammerton is already a celebrity, having featured in books and TV programmes on Kew and on Trees, the latest being the very successful BBC Series The Trees That Made Britain.   At Kew, to which he went straight from school, he was a team leader and one of the leading climbers, looking after more than 14,000 trees.

Jon fell in love with Gibraltar and our Botanic Gardens when he came over with the Kew tree team several years ago, and has finally made the move.  He has swopped oaks and beech trees for olives, stone pines and dragon trees!

His responsibilities, as part of the Alameda Garden team, will be mainly in relation to tree work, of which there is a great deal in what is Gibraltar’s most wooded area.  There is much to be done in relation to removal of dead wood, clearing views, assessing the state of trees, and of course planting new ones, and already a programme of work is being developed.   Apart from working in the Gardens, Jon will be involved in tree assessments and advice throughout Gibraltar, as part of the arrangements made between the Government and the Garden’s managing company, Wildlife (Gibraltar) Ltd.  This will allow an improvement in the state of Gibraltar’s trees and will hopefully encourage people to appreciate them more.

Garden Director, Dr John Cortes said, "Jon is now an integral part of an increasingly professional team at the Gibraltar Botanic Gardens, which is working hard to deliver a progressively more attractive and important Garden for Gibraltar and the world as it heads towards its 200th anniversary in 2016".

Visitors to the Alameda will soon recognise the new face!

 

1 May 2009

Wildlife Park Open Day

The Alameda Wildlife Park, within the Gibraltar Botanic Gardens (the former miniature golf site), will be holding its second Annual Open Day  on Sunday 10 May. 

This will be combined with a Bird of Prey Display at the Open Air Theatre, in  aid of Lions’ Club, hosted by the Bird of Prey Unit of the GONHS (Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society).

There will also be a photographic competition, to be judged on the day.

Details of the Open Day, photo competition, contact details, etc. can be seen on the Wildlife Park's web pages, here.

          Egyptian Fruit Bats at the Alameda Park

18 April 2009

Open Air Theatre announces

2009 Programme

 
The Alameda Open Air Theatre, has just announced its programme for the Summer of 2009.    Apart from private functions, there are eight different productions planned, running for a total of nineteen nights.

The productions range from band concerts to beauty contests and musicals.

Opening the season at the beginning of June will be the musical Oliver.  Later in the same month will be the variety performance of Bosom Buddies, followed by a production by Urban Dance entitled Ilumina.  Shortly after will be the Miss Gibraltar 2009  Pageant, followed in early July by another musical, Jesus Christ Superstar.  Miss Glamour 2009 and then Model Search 2009 follow later in July, while in early September the Theatre will host the now traditional Battle of Britain Concert.

The full calendar of performances can be seen on the Theatre’s webpage (http://www.gibraltargardens.gi/Theatreprogramme.php), while further details on each production will be released nearer the corresponding date.

The Theatre’s management, with the support of the Ministries of the Environment and of Culture, is continuing its policy of improving equipment to ensure, not just better quality performances, but a reduction in any sound that may inconvenience residents of the area.

There are still a number of bookings available, particularly in August.  Booking forms can be requested from theatre@gibraltargardens.gi or can be downloaded from the Theatre web page.

 

5 April 2009

Growing links with Kew

GBG General Manager, Jose Maria Rodriguez and Kew's Tony Hall inspect a Nettle Tree Celtis australis raised in Kew from seed collected in Gibraltar

 

Links between the Gibraltar Botanic Gardens and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, are developing and growing steadily.

In past years, members of the Kew Tree Team have spent time working on the trees in the Alameda Gardens and there have been regular visits in both directions,  with staff from Kew visiting Gibraltar and Alameda Garden staff calling at Kew.

The most recent visit to Kew, last week, was by the Gibraltar Gardens Director, Dr John Cortes, and its General Manager, Jose Maria Rodriguez.  The main purpose of the visit was to hold discussions with various departments at Kew to discuss ideas about developing a new rockery at the Alameda and to update methods in propagation and compost-making.

The collaboration is far from one-sided, and the Gibraltar delegation was able to see first hand the large number of plants from Gibraltar-collected seed currently being grown in Kew’s greenhouses for their developing Mediterranean collection.  An increasing number of shrubs and trees originating in Gibraltar are now growing outside in Kew Gardens, and will in future years become prominent exhibits in the Royal Botanic Gardens.

Further collaboration in a range of fields, including database development and mapping are planned for the near future.

Gibraltar-origin plants in the greenhouse

Some of the trees grown from Gibraltar-collected seed

Jose Maria Rodriguez discusses rockery construction

with Kew's Joanna Everson

Gibraltar Botanic Garden General Manager Jose Maria Rodriguez and

Director John Cortes at Kew's growing Mediterranean area

 

16 February 2009

Russell Wagner visits Garden

                                   Russell and Brian in the greenhouse.

The editor of a leading publication on succulent plants, ‘Cactus and Succulent Journal’, visited Gibraltar recently.  Russell Wagner spent two days at the Gibraltar Botanic Gardens, where he was as able to enjoy its plants (particularly the large collection of succulents!), offer some useful advice on growing and caring for these sometimes-delicate plants, and provide useful contacts for exchange of plants, seeds and information.  Russell is shown in a photograph with the Gardens’ curator, Brian Lamb.  In fact, Russell told us that one of his first two books on succulent plants was Brian and his father Edgar’s hugely popular ‘The Pocket Encyclopaedia of Cacti in Colour’!  The ‘Cactus and Succulent Journal’ is published by the Cactus and Succulent Society of America (www.cssainc.org).

 

26 January 2009

 

Alameda in Botanic Garden publication

 

The latest issue of 'El Botanico', the journal of the Iberian  Association of Botanic Gardens, features the Gibraltar Botanic Gardens  at the Alameda.  Written by Dr Keith Bensusan, the Techncial and  Scientific Co-ordinator and by Curator Brian Lamb, it covers the  Garden's work on conservation of both native and exotic plants.

Among the facts given in the article is the striking statistic that 132 of the 400 species of Aloes - succulents mainly from tropical Africa and  Arabia - are grown in the Alameda, making up 33% of the global number  of species and making the Gibraltar Botanic Garden one of the world's most important  centres for this group.

Work on local plants such as the Gibraltar Campion and Candytuft is also covered, as is the development of the Alameda's seed bank.  The  Alameda was of critical importance in bringing back the Gibraltar  Campion from the brink of extinction, and this is reported in the  article.

There has been growing emphasis given over the last few years by the  Gardens' management to the role of the Alameda in conservation and  scientific research, to complement its enormous recreational, cultural  and educational value to Gibraltar.  These aspect is now beginning to  gain significant international recognition.

The Iberian Association of Botanic Gardens has as its members botanic gardens in Spain and Portugal and the Gibraltar Botanic Garden. The next issue of 'El Botanico' will carry another article by Dr  Bensusan, on an Alameda-led international initiative to document and  conserve Moroccan succulent plants in collections around the world.

 

 

2 January 2009

Alameda Theatre's first leading actor

passes away, aged 37

When the Alameda Open Air Theatre re-opened after years of neglect and total refurbishment several years after the creation of the Botanic Garden, the first production staged there, in May 1996, was 'Arrow - The Legend of Robin Hood', by Gibraltarians Trevor Guilliano and William Finlayson.  Such was the success of the production that it was repeated - with an almost identical cast - several years later.

The leading role of Robin Hood on both occasions was played by Sean McCarthy, who was aged 25 in 1996.  This challenging part allowed Sean to express his acting skills and particularly his versatile voice to its best, as can be confirmed from the recording on the CD of the musical published at the time.

Sean McCarthy passed away suddenly and tragically on 30 December 2008.  Sean was a good friend of the Open Air Theatre, and of the Gardens, which he used as a base for his singing activities for some time.  He was a kind, caring person, full of ambition and ideas, and a pleasure to know and to work with.

The Gibraltar Botanic Gardens, which provided Sean with one of his most beloved stages, wants, in this short obituary, to pay tribute to his life, to his talent, and to his friendship.

Sean McCarthy, 1971-2008, as Robin Hood

 

9 December 2008

Garden Seed Index launched

The Garden's latest Index Seminum has been launched today.  The index, which is a catalogue of the seed collection held in the Garden’s seed bank, is sent to botanic gardens and scientific institutions around the world.

 

The seeds in the bank are gathered from the garden itself and in the field, in different habitats in Gibraltar, Spain and Morocco.  It represents a large range of important biodiversity including one of the major collections, on a global scale, of the genus Aloe (seeds of some 20% of the world’s Aloe species are conserved).  It also includes some important collections of Mediterranean species, including some Gibraltar endemics.

With some 410 entries and almost 300 different species represented, the Index is the largest ever offered for scientific exchange from the Gibraltar Botanic Gardens. It is illustrated with a selection of photographs of plants growing at the Gardens and in the wild.

In keeping with the Garden’s environmental policy, the 2008 Index Seminum is published as a pdf and circulated digitally, and can be downloaded here.

6th December 2008

Gibraltar Scientific Team in Morocco

 

 

A joint team from the Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society, the Gibraltar Botanic Gardens, the Scientific Institute of Rabat University and Tetouan University returned recently from southern Morocco where they carried out extensive ecological surveys as part of GIBMANATUR, the Interreg IIIA Gibraltar-Morocco European Union project.

One of the tasks the team was involved in was investigating the distribution of a number of rare plants, and studying the possibility of propagating them in the Gibraltar Botanic Gardens.  Already two new locations for a particular species formerly only know from one site, have been found.  The botanical work also involves determining the status of a number of species, which is expected to result in the subsequent naming of several which are new to science.

The work also involved a survey of bird distributions, and a study of invertebrates, mostly beetles, ants and land molluscs, where once again new discoveries are expected.

This was the last activity in the GIBMANATUR programme, which began in 2003, but it is hoped that funds will be made available in the future for ecological and conservation work in Morocco to continue.

     Apteranthes europaea, one of the plants located during the expedition; and part of the team recording observations

 

5 December 2008

The Alameda in stamps

The Gibraltar Botanic Gardens at the Alameda currently feature in two stamps from Gibraltar - a very popular country for philatelists.

The first, issued by the Gibraltar Post Office in 2004, commemorates the 50th Anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's visit to Gibraltar in 1954.  The Alameda Gardens featured prominently during the visit as it was the venue for a parade attended by Scouts, Guides and other bodies, at which a mosaic commemorating the visit was uncovered.  The mosaic can still be seen on the Queen Elizabeth Steps.  The stamp shows the Queen, carrying a bouquet, at the Eliott Memorial.  With her Majesty in the photograph in the centre of the stamp sheet is the late Miss Patricia Smith, then the Guide Commissioner, and a great garden enthusiast.  Patricia contributed greatly to charitable work in Gibraltar and also donated plants from her private collection to the Botanic Gardens throughout her life.  These included a fine specimen of Cape Chestnut Calodendrum capense, that can still be seen on the Main Walk near the Wellington Memorial.

The second stamp showing the Gardens is the Gibraltar value stamp of the 2008 definitive issue, produced in consultation with the Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society.  This stamp shows a European Bee-eater, a bird that migrates over Gibraltar, flying across the main gate of the Gardens at Grand Parade.  Bee-eaters can be seen hawking for insects in the Gardens on occasion when bad weather, usually low cloud, interferes with their migration.

 

 

8 November 2008

Palm Bed Opens

The Palm Bed was officially inaugurated on Friday 7 November in the presence of the Minister for the Environment the Hon Ernest Britto.

The bed has been developed by the Gardens using additional funds provided by the European Union Objective 2 Structural Development Fund and sponsors Ocean Village and Party Gaming and benefactor Mrs Anita Ortiz.

The project has been spearheaded by the Garden's Albert Freyone, inspired by his dedication to and and love of palms.  He has used his knowledge of the subject to select a variety of palm trees and plant them according to their needs,  and to design the bed which adds a distinctly tropical look the the area.  In addition a wooden walkway through the bed leads to the entrance of the Open Air Theatre and so the bed will be enjoyed by hundreds of people every season.  There are over forty species of palms in the collection.

The Hon. E Britto, Dr Cortes and Albert Freyone at the opening

15 September 2008

New addition to the Peacock family

Back in August the pair of peacocks held in the Alameda Conservation Park laid three eggs.  On Monday 15th September the first egg hatched and the chick spent the day with mum.  The next morning the chick was found soaked and in poor condition, due to overnight heavy rain, and was taken into care.  Despite being returned to mum the next day the Peahen rejected the chick.  It has now been fostered by one of the Park keepers, Tyrene Navarro, and follows her diligently everywhere.  It is being fed on a mix of mashed chicken food and corn and also some vegetables.

The Peacock family is an integral part of the Conservation Park and have been with us for over seven years and raised ten chicks.  Some failed to survive whereas others grew to maturity.  Two have been donated to the Landport animal collection, and another two were found a good foster home.

The chick has yet to be named, and is expected to remain in the Alameda Conservation Park for the future where visitors are invited to see the new addition and enjoy the rest of the animals there.

01 September 2008

Bats in the Theatre

This year's "European Bat Night" took place at the Open Air Theatre, within the Alameda Botanic Gardens on Saturday 30 August 2008. Just over twenty people attended the event, where they could sit very much as an audience watching a performance. A breezy evening appeared to restrict the activities of the Soprano pipistrelles Pipistrellus pygmaeus which are resident in the area and would usually have been our most frequent visitors. The Gibraltar Ornithological and Natural History Society (GONHS), which organised and promoted the event, had set up a bat detector connected to a loudspeaker, through which participants would be able to hear 'heterodyne' interpretations of the otherwise ultrasonic bat calls. Well after sunset, the first Schreiber's or Large bent wing bat Miniopterus schreibersii began their forays over the area of the pond and stage, often providing a little more than a glimpse before they disappeared from view. The bat detector proved its worth, by allowing all those present to hear its echolocation calls, even if some of the participants failed to spot the bat itself. Albert Yome, GONHS coordinator for European Bat Night, was on hand to answer many questions on bats, having first introduced the evening with a short chat on Gibraltar's bats and the threats they face.

Silaika Yome / GONHS

18 May 2008

INDEPENDENT Praise for Gardens

The Independent on Sunday today published an article on bird migration in Gibraltar by Environment Correspondent Michael McCarthy.   It is entitled Spring migration:  take your seats for one of the greatest shows on earth.  In its extensive treatment of Gibraltar as a site for watching birds, the article has this to say about the Gardens:

 

"My final call was at the Alameda Botanic Gardens in the town, largely unsung, but to me the single most attractive feature of all of Gibraltar. The director is John Cortes of Gonhs, and in the past 15 years he and his team have restored the gardens and turned them into an oasis of stunning beauty, resplendent not only in its trees and flowers, but also in its butterflies – the two-tailed pasha, Europe's most spectacular insect, can be found there.

"Its birds can be eye-catching, too. Ambling through its glades I saw blackcaps and woodchat shrikes, and also pied flycatchers, the latter perhaps heading for the oakwoods of Wales. It was a reminder that there is much more to the Bit of Britain Stuck on the End of Spain than bobbies, double-deckers, and English pubs."

The full article can be accessed from this link.

 

17 February 2008

Open Air Theatre programme announced

The Alameda Open Air Theatre will once again be the main location for cultural activities in Gibraltar during the summer of 2008.   The Theatre's management has just announced the programme for this year, which will include fashion shows, dance events, beauty contests, musical presentations, band concerts and a stage musical.

This year the Theatre will boast additional lighting equipment and a new surround-sound system which,  apart from imrpoving the acoustics of the auditorium, will point away from the residential area of Red Sands Road. This is part of the  Alameda Gardens "good neighbourly" policy in which it aims to be an asset for the community in the area.  The new equipment, funded by the Ministry for Culture, will minimise any inconvenience performances in the Theatre may have caused in the past.

Some of the events are predicted to be spectacular and include a number of totally unexpected surprises.

There are still some dates availablke for performances.  Anyone interested in hiring the Open Air Theatre, either for public performances or private functions, should contact the Botanic Garden Administration Office on 20041235 or e-mail theatre@gibraltargardens.gi.

The full Theatre programme can be accessed here and Terms and Conditions of hire are also available on-line.

 

1 December 2007

Gibraltar plant work in A-level curriculum

     

Work on plants carried out at the Gibraltar Botanic Gardens with the collaboration of GONHS (the Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society) has been included in the recently published Edexcel GCE  AS and A Level Biology curriculum for 2009 and 2010.

In a section on seed banks, the document reads:

Both the Gibraltar Botanic Gardens and GONHS are pleased that their work in Gibraltar has caught the attention of the examination board and has been chosen, among thousands of similar initiatives around the world, as an example of successful conservation work.

 

 

11 November 2007

 

Monarchs back in the Gardens

A Monarch butterfly on Asclepias                                                     C.Perez/GONHS

Monarch Butterflies are once again flying over the Alameda Gardens.  These butterflies, originally from the Americas, and which later colonised the Canaries in the 1800s, established a breeding population in the Gardens in the early 2000s.  The caterpillars fed on plants of Asclepias curassavica.  They were a common sight in the Gardens for several years, until they were killed off during the cold spell in January 2005, which included the only day in recorded history when frost lay on the ground for several hours in parts of the Gardens.   Monarchs were seen once again in Gibraltar, in the gardens of the Convent, about three weeks ago, but during the past few days a few individuals have been seen again in the Botanic Gardens.  It is hoped that they will have found the Asclepias plants and that they will once again establish a population here.

 

A Monarch caterpillar                                                                        C.Perez/GONHS

 

7 November 2007

New arrivals in the Wildlife Park

On the 6th of November the Alameda Wildlife Park welcomed the birth of a pair of Cotton-topped tamarin twins. The cotton-top tamarin is a small monkey about the size of a squirrel.  It weighs less than 0.5 kg (1 lb). The proud parents, Itchy and Scratchy, were brought to the park in 2006 as part of a Breeding programme with Newquay Zoo, UK.

Cotton-top tamarins are one of three Amazonian species of tamarin and are found in a small area of northwest Colombia. They are listed as endangered. It is estimated that there are only between 300 and 1000 cotton-top tamarins left in the wild and there are 1800 in captivity.

Unlike humans, it is quite the norm for Tamarins to give birth to twins. To cope with this responsibility, both parents will take an active role in rearing the young. After the first week riding on mum, the babies will be passed over to the male, who will take over much of the hard work, very much a new age dad! When the youngsters grow up, they will remain with their parents and help to raise their siblings, this ensures they have experience in rearing offspring for their future reproduction. Parental behaviour is not instinctual but learned, and both males and females that are inexperienced are unsuccessful caregivers. Obviously this pair of tamarins has this valuable experience as they have settled into their parental roles with ease.

Cotton-top tamarins live for an average of 13.5 years, up to 24 years in captivity.

In the wild, cotton-top tamarin eat insects, fruit, plant juices and nectar. At the Wildlife Park, staff aim to follow the animals natural diet as closely as possible, feeding the tamarins, fresh fruit, mealworms, crickets and arabic gum.

Visit the Alameda Wildlife Park to see the tiny new arrivals, open every day between 10am and 4.30pm.

 

 

21 October 2007

Director live on BBC Radio

Garden Director Dr John Cortes was interviewed live for 30 minutes this morning by Johnnie Amos on BBC Radio Northampton, in the second instalment of a new weekly series dedicated to Botanic Gardens of the Commonwealth.

John answered questions on the hsitory, plants and work carried out on  the Gardens and the Botanic Garden team was congratulated on their work and oin how the Alameda gardens are becoming increasingly known by garden lovers around the world and in the UK in particular.

 


Growing links with Kew


Russell Wagner visits garden


Alameda in Iberian Garden publication


Sean McCarthy

1971-2008


Index Seminum launched


Scientific team in Morocco


The Alameda in Stamps


Palm Bed opens


Independent praise for Gardens


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