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Autumnal Levada Walking

Experiencing Madeira though its levadas has to be one of the most thrilling and enjoyable activities you can do while you are here. And now that the weather is cooler it’s the perfect time to pick up a pair of hiking boots, grab your phone (for emergency calls and back up torch) and either head out on one of the more relaxed walks with a couple of friends or go out with a tour and experience the challenges the ‘Madeira rockers’ faced when they built the islands historic waterways.
This time of year, with the leaves of the deciduous trees turning into their autumnal hues, the landscape is a kaleidoscope of oranges, yellows and reds against a backdrop of evergreen and silver-grey eucalyptus. The walks themselves are graded from one to four, with four being the hardest, so now is a perfect time to break in those boots with a couple of beautiful easy walks such as Levada dos Tornos (Camacha to Monte), the Balcony at Ribeira Fria and the beautiful levada da Serra do Faial.
And remember ‘your boots were made for walking!’

Young Plants Production Manual Launch

Young Plants Production Manual Launch

16th January 2020

The launch of the 'Manual of Production of Sprouts and Young Plants' will take place tomorrow at 12:00 in the auditorium of the Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Rural Development.

Recommendations for Continente – Azores – Madeira Cable

Recommendations for Continente – Azores – Madeira Cable

16th January 2020

Schools Encourage Portuguese to Eat More Fruit

Schools Encourage Portuguese to Eat More Fruit

16th January 2020

Animal Blessing at Prazeres Pedagogical Farm

Animal Blessing at Prazeres Pedagogical Farm

16th January 2020

2.3 Million Euros to Fight Poverty

2.3 Million Euros to Fight Poverty

15th January 2020

Mein Schiff Herz Turnaround in Madeira

Mein Schiff Herz Turnaround in Madeira

15th January 2020

TAP Prices – Suck it UP and Shut UP!

TAP Prices – Suck it UP and Shut UP!

14th January 2020

Cruise Liner Training Course

Cruise Liner Training Course

14th January 2020

Dog Thrown in Levada is on The Mend

Dog Thrown in Levada is on The Mend

13th January 2020

Portuguese nationality: more naturalisations than births

bus bass

Portuguese nationality: more naturalisations than births

13th January 2020

State Budget 2020 – Incentives for leaving local lodging

State Budget 2020 – Incentives for leaving local lodging

13th January 2020

Tax exemptions for non-habitual residents amount to €548 million in 2018

gifts between spouses

Tax exemptions for non-habitual residents amount to €548 million in 2018

13th January 2020

Golden Visa investments fall again

bank notes

Golden Visa investments fall again

13th January 2020

Dead Body Found Near Caniçal

Dead Body Found Near Caniçal

12th January 2020

Portuguese Group Collect and Deliver Aid to Australian Fire Victims

Portuguese Group Collect and Deliver Aid to Australian Fire Victims

12th January 2020

Woman Falls in Lido Area

Woman Falls in Lido Area

12th January 2020

NRP Douro Returns to Madeira

NRP Douro Returns to Madeira

9th January 2020

New Hospital Will Have 607 Beds

New Hospital Will Have 607 Beds

9th January 2020

CMF Waste Collection Initiative

CMF Waste Collection Initiative

9th January 2020

Disney to Pay 3.5 Million Euros to Former Portuguese Waitress

Disney to Pay 3.5 Million Euros to Former Portuguese Waitress

8th January 2020

Autumn Gardening Tips

After perhaps the most topsy turvy year I’ve experienced weather-wise, it’s time to look at its effect on our gardens.
If like me you have spent most of the summer watering, you are probably relieved that the cooler weather is at least giving our gardens a bit of well-deserved respite. However, it’s not over yet as the long dry spring and summer has certainly taken a toll on my borders and garden as a whole. So now, before the rains (hopefully) set in, it’s time to take a cold, hard and ruthless look at your garden and decide what has to go! It may feel cruel, but straggly bedding plants, faded blooms and woody perennials are not going to recover, so the best thing is to pull them out.
Once you’ve been brutally honest and before you do anything else, dig over and rake affected areas and give you garden a thorough composting if possible. Your roses will love it! And now, it is one of the best parts of the season, planting bulbs for next year. Freesia’s, daffodils (if you’re cool enough), anemones and a whole abundance of bulbs are available for you to create your late winter and early spring borders come alive. My Narcissus are already poking their heads above the soil, and hopefully the two Camellia seedlings I’m nurturing are not thugs in disguise.
Don’t forget to trim back shrubs, cut hedges, prune roses and give everything a well-deserved feed. And above all else, enjoy your garden and the joy it brings.