The Mediterranean wood: Hotel Audax's garden

The Audax Hotel is located just at the beginning of a large nature reserve, which is easily accessible from the main lobby. Just walk some paces to the right, past the gym. It is a large wooded area with a rich and varied wildlife. The most characteristic tree, in these woods, is the holm oak (Quercus Ilex). You can see some of them just from the car park at Carrer des Pi (just at the right-hand side of the Hotel). The Mediterranean wood has been deeply altered, along its history, by the hand of man. Romans introduced the pine tree (Pinus Halepensis) in Minorca two thousand years ago. Bit by bit it has spread all over the island, supplanting the holm oak as the dominant species.

Besides these two, we can find a wide variety of bushes as can be juniper (Juniperus Phoenicea), mastic (Pistacia Lentiscus) and Italian Buckthorn (Rhamnus Aaternus). Probably you would be more attracted by plants best know by their blossom. Among them, probably the most interesting are orchids. Only one of the, Ophrys Belear, is endemic from the islands. All others, such as the yellow bee orchid (Ophrys Lutea) or black bee orchid (Ophrys Fusca), are very common along the Mediterranean. Unfortunately, we can only enjoy their spectacular blossom in spring.

As fauna is concerned, in the Audax’s garden (as we call these woods) the most characteristic species are marten and weasel. As they are quite shy animals, they can hardly be seen. Maybe the most common, and easy to watch, are all kind of marine birds such as seagulls. Nevertheless, if wouldn’t be unusual that in your walk you could watch some bird of prey, such as kites, hawks or even eagles.

Our guides, from the Audax Sports and Nature Centre, will assist you in identifying these and other species and will share with you their love and respect for all the treasures that nature keeps in this land.

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