Ants aren’t loved by many, especially when they invade the house. However, one of the most common and arguably fascinating species in Mediterranean areas like ours is the Harvester (Messor barbarus), which won’t be remotely interested in heading for your kitchen in search of meaty or sugary tidbits.
In the P-O we are usually blessed with a fabulous autumn – for many people here it’s their favourite season. Mountain and vineyard vistas have turned yellow, orange, red. If we’re lucky, rains have refreshed the parched land and refilled our rivers, sometimes to over flowing!
To leave or remain in the PO? Many birds will be doing one or the other now that the breeding season is over and winter approaches. But each species is hardwired to make the right…
Just by walking around, we blunder constantly through the territory of many living things. Here are some of the more interesting – if less than cute – creatures whose paths I crossed last summer.
In many regions of France, the ritual gathering of mushrooms in the autumn , is a culture in itself.
If you ever wonder what just catapulted out of the grass, or is driving you mad, grating louder than a lawnmower, here’s how to tell your crickets from your grasshoppers and cicadas.
Autumn is here but the P-O still has plenty to offer, from small creatures to dramatic vistas and skies. Look and you will see; listen and you will hear.
They might not all be a pulsing whirl of excitement – some are only small gatherings scantily attended – but it’s a great way to support the local producers.
One of the many irrigation canals that criss-cross the Pyrenees-Orientales runs through the pretty village of Rodès. Enjoy a relatively light walk of 1 – 1.5 hours. A small section of climbing but nothing too challenging.
Eco-innovation and experimentation by local groups forging new paths for living (and thriving!) within the boundaries of our natural systems.