Welcome to the Rudloe and environs website.
Here you will find news, articles and photos of an area that straddles the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in north-west Wiltshire.
Contributions in the form of articles or photos are welcome. Even those with completely contrary views to mine!
Thanks to the website builder 1&1 and Rob Brown for the original idea.
Rudloescene now, in January 2014, has a sister, academic rather than anarchic, website about Box history here: http://www.boxpeopleandplaces.co.uk/
It contains thoroughly professional, well-researched articles about Box and its people.
Contact rudloescene through the 'Contact' page.
The Parque Natural del Estrecho, between Tarifa and Algeciras at the point where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean, is the most southerly natural park in Europe. The following photographs show typical, widespread flowers and plants at the margins of the maquis (Mediterranean scrubland vegetation of shrubs or small trees) and, in images 6, 7 and 30 of the gallery, some of the many debarked oaks (Quercus suber) are shown. Cork oak is unique in its ability to regenerate its outer bark. After a tree reaches 25 years of age, it can be stripped of its cork once every 9 to 12 years without causing damage to the tree. A single cork oak, which lives up to 200 years, can be harvested over 16 times. The geology is interesting (but perhaps not for some); the photos show sedimentary limestone which has shifted 90 degrees so now lies vertical to its plane of deposition. Over time, the edges of the layers on the beach have been eroded to look like kerbstones or the time-worn streets of Pompeii. Also much in evidence is significant honeycomb weathering of the limestone. The beaches contain evidence of migrations from Africa (Morocco) which is only ten kilometers away across the Straits of Gibraltar. I have also included some images of Tarifa town which, like the Parque, is the most southerly in Europe.
The red flower was the most prolific on our walk. The pinnate leaves indicate that it is a vetch but the closest flower match found in 'The Flowers of Gibraltar' was 'star clover'. Also pictured are a pretty convolvulus and bird's foot trefoil.
More 'vetch' and different types of convolvulus
The 'vetch' was the most prolific flower at the side of the track running through the maquis
Here we see what look like campanulas and perhaps crown daisies
The pathway naturally becomes narrower and steeper as we get closer to the Straits
Cactus-like prickly pear or Barbary fig much in evidence on the hills above us
The path led to remote beach which contained dinghy detritus, presumably the remains of illegal immigrant crossings from Morocco
Here's the bay looking east into the Med; our footpath may be seen at top left dropping down onto the beach
The deposited limestone has been turned through 90 degrees and eroded to now look like groynes reaching out into the sea
A lone fisherman stands atop the rocks at the east side of the bay
Possibly sea daisy (asteriscus maritimus) atop beach rocks which show some signs of honeycomb weathering
Another view of that fisherman across eroded limestone reminiscent of the grooved streets of Pompeii. The Atlantic lies beyond
Honeycomb limestone at the foot of the cliffs; spot the giant's hand and the sleeping seal
Perhaps practising mindlessness (according to our granddaughter) by contemplating the primeval nature of the littoral
A dinosaur footprint in the rock
And now a few images of Tarifa town ...
Election posters for the conservative (conservador) People's Party (Partido Popular) promising commitment (compromiso)
Oranges in calle Luz Munoz
Typical hand-painted tiles at the entrance to a local laboratory
Jazz in the Square
A Tarifa street scene with orange trees
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