Island wonders to delight the soul

LATE April in Ireland and the woods are carpeted in bluebells, a sight to behold.

White ransoms have blossomed and their garlicy smell pervades the woodland paths. The flowers of triquetrous garlic, the real wild garlic, bloom like white bluebells on the roadsides. Anno Domini 2009 seems to be a great year for gorse; all over Ireland, it is brilliant and robust and brightens ditches and hills. Its contribution to the landscapes among which we are fortunate enough to live costs us nothing. It requires no cultivation, no more than the bluebells, the garlics, the primroses or violets. Nature is the gardener, no effort on our part is required.

Last week, before leaving Lanzarote, with which we were greatly impressed, we spent two days on La Graciosa, an island to the north. Eight kilometres by four, it is the smallest inhabited island in the Canaries. I would urge my walking, nature-watching and adventurous readers to visit it. In Europe (if the Canary Islands are in Europe, other than politically) it is unique. A 15 minute voyage from Órzola in the north of Lanzarote transports one into its distinctive world.