GERALD DURRELL'S CORFU - A WEEK IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF GERRY DURRELL 13 - 19 APRIL 2019, CORFU - Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
G E RALD DU RR EL L’ S C ORFU
A WEEK I N T H E F OO T ST E P S
O F G ER RY D U RRELL
13 – 19 A PRI L 2 0 1 9 , C O R F U
C E LEB RAT I NG THE
6 0 TH A N N IV E R SA RY
O F JE R S E Y Z OO
A note from L EE D U R R E L L Welcome to Gerald Durrell’s Corfu, a magical experience for anyone who has been inspired by Gerald Durrell’s books. It is a gathering of like-minded people who follow in Gerry’s footsteps around the enchanting island of Corfu, where Gerry spent his childhood and discovered his deep and abiding fascination for the Animal Kingdom. It takes place every spring for a week. We visit the areas in Corfu that Gerry wrote about, meet the animals he loved and remind each other of the important legacy he left the world. The ‘Gerry Week’ team and I are looking forward to showing you Corfu from Gerald Durrell’s perspective from 13th to 19th April 2019.
GERALD DURRELL’S CORFU 2019 OVERV IE W O F THE C O U RSE Led by David Ashcroft, who began developing the course with his wife Alexina about 15 years ago, it is based in the north of the island at an ancient Venetian villa restored by Dave and Alex and now called Villa Alexina. Accommodation for participants is within easy walking distance of the villa, and we meet there every morning to hear talks on the theme of the day and prepare for the day’s activities. Transport is provided to take us to explore different locations carefully chosen for their relevance to Gerry’s books and their ecological interest. Each day we are accompanied by Lee Durrell, as well as experts in one or more aspects of the flora and fauna of Corfu and the story of the Durrell family. We return to the villa in the late afternoon to reflect on the day’s experiences, then often gather again in the evening for a special meal or to practise Greek dancing! The greenest of the Ionian Islands due to an abundance of rainfall in the winter and early spring, Corfu also hosts the greatest biodiversity. You will be mesmerised by expanses of wildflowers and olive groves, the nightly calling of scops owls and frogs and glimpses of glittering turquoise waters stretching across to the distant mountains of Albania. Corfu lies at the crossroads of Mediterranean culture. Corfiots have a long history of hospitality towards foreign residents and visitors, typified in Gerry’s book My Family and Other Animals. Front cover Gerry looking out at Mouse Island
GERALD DURRELL’S CORFU 2019
C O UR S E A C TI VIT IES
The whole week will be an informal mix of talks, demonstrations, walks, visits,
readings from Gerry’s books and memorable meals. Most of the faculty will
be with you every day, ready to share their vast knowledge of Corfu and
the Durrells.
SATURDAY 13TH APRIL MONDAY 15TH APRIL
A Twenty-first Century Multi-coloured Return to the Lake of the Lilies
Lilliput Talk by herbalist Eleni Christoforatou on
Arrival in Corfu, collected by the mini- traditional use of herbs by Corfiots, then
buses to drive north and settle into visit to Gerry’s favourite beach and lake,
accommodation. Welcome at the Study followed by exploration of diverse habitats
Centre at Villa Alexina where you will meet around the northernmost headland of Corfu.
the faculty (and each other) and learn Lunch at traditional Taverna. Talk by botanist
what to expect from the week. Talk by David Shimwell on coastal biodiversity. Light-
entomologist Peter Sutton followed by a BBQ. hearted presentation by Lee Durrell on the
books and television programmes she and
SUNDAY 14TH APRIL Gerry did together..
An Entertainment with Animals
Pond-dipping and insect and plant TUESDAY 16TH APRIL
identification at two freshwater sites, picnic High Point of Corfu
in beautiful traditional olive grove. Evening Exploration of plant and insect life at higher
presentation by Lee Durrell on Gerald elevation habitats around Mt Pantokrator,
Durrell and his mission to save species from the highest mountain in Corfu with stunning
extinction. views from the summit. Picnic lunch.GERALD DURRELL’S CORFU 2019
C O UR S E O VE RV IEW
WEDNESDAY 17TH APRIL FRIDAY 19TH APRIL
The Pygmy Jungle and Myrtle Forests The Legacy of Gerald Durrell
Talk by herpetologist Bosse Stille on the Talk by Peter Sutton on the butterflies of
diversity of reptiles and amphibians found Corfu. Transfer to Loutses to look for Vallonian
on Corfu, followed by a long (seven miles) oaks and visit a famous cave, then to Old
coastal walk on the last remaining pristine Perithia, an ancient abandoned village,
headland, now threatened by developers. looking for wildlife and wildflowers among
The headland contains evergreen maquis the ruins. Late lunch at traditional taverna.
and brackish wetlands and offers a pleasant Farewell BBQ at Villa Alexina.
swim inshore. Picnic lunch. Evening BBQ at
Study Centre with opportunity to learn Greek SATURDAY 20TH APRIL
dancing. Early morning transfer to airport or
Corfu Town.
THURSDAY 18TH APRIL
PL EASE NOT E T HAT T HE ABOVE C OU R SE
Pilgrimage to Mouse Island and OU T L I NE MAY B E SU B J EC T T O MI NOR
Corfiot Durrelliania C HANGES.
Transfer to Kanoni (south of Corfu Town) for
short boat trip to explore Mouse Island. Free
time for lunch and wandering/shopping in
Corfu Town. Led by David Ashcroft, follow
the Durrell Town Trail and do some urban
herping. Dinner al fresco in a charming town
square.GERALD DURRELL’S CORFU 2019
C O UR S E FA C U LT Y
A LEXIN A A SHCR OFT
Alex was one of the founder directors of The Durrell School of Corfu (DSC)
2002-2014. Alex was professionally trained in the UK to work with abused
children and worked in that field for many years. She moved to Corfu in 2002
and became Administrator of the DSC throughout its twelve years. Since the
DSC closed, she has been the Administrator for Gerald Durrell’s Corfu.
DAVID A SH CR OFT
David is a strong supporter of compassionate farming, originally training in
agriculture and specializing in genetics at Lancaster University. He managed
several commercial farms before taking up the reins at the largest city
educational farm in London, The Mudchute. His farming career led him to
take his family to Cornwall where he spent his childhood, in order to fulfil his
life’s aim and own his own farm. David moved to Corfu in 1993, where he
renovated a sixteenth century Venetian manor house. He became a director
of The Durrell School of Corfu and, with his wife Alexina and Prof. David
Bellamy, he developed Gerald Durrell’s Corfu.
ELEN I C HRISTOFOR ATOU
Eleni Christoforatou has spent more than thirty years on Corfu, which she now
calls home. She studied herbal medicine at the Chestnut School of Herbal
Medicine in the US and her knowledge of the medicinal properties of local
plants is extensive. She runs alternative cultural workshops and is an active
campaigner on conservation and appreciation of Corfu.
DR LEE DURRE L L MB E
Lee is Honorary Director of Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, taking on the
mantle when her husband Gerald passed away in 1995. Lee gained a
PhD in Zoology from Duke University in the US with a dissertation on animal
vocalisations in Madagascar, where she lived for two years in the early 1970s.
She married Gerald in 1979 and worked with him on books and television
series about nature and conservation over the next decade. Lee established
and ran the Trust’s conservation programme in Madagascar from 1983 to
2017, the first project being for the recovery of the critically endangered
Ploughshare tortoise earning her the nickname ‘Grandmother of the Tortoise’
in Madagascar. In 2000 she acquired her first light aeroplane and flew
animals to and from their breeding programmes in Jersey and various British
and European zoos for the next ten years. In 2011 she was awarded the MBE
for services to conservation.GERALD DURRELL’S CORFU 2019
C O UR S E FA C U LT Y
DR DAVID SHIMWEL L
David graduated from Durham University with degrees in botany and
vegetation ecology and had a lifelong career lecturing in botany,
biogeography and environmental conservation at the universities of Hull and
Manchester. He is best known in international academic circles for his book
on the identification and classification of vegetation and as an author of
British Plant Communities. The ecology of European vegetation, particularly
of the Mediterranean region, is one of his specialisms. He first visited Corfu
in 1975 to collect beetles for the Manchester Museum from the habitats
described in My Family and other Animals; it was at this time he became
an acolyte of Gerald Durrell. He has recently completed a catalogue of
the archive of cookery books and recipes of Louisa Durrell to be published
as a cookbook entitled ‘Dining with the Durrells’. He is a lifelong friend of his
mentor, David Bellamy.
C OLIN ST EVE NSON
Colin is a pilot, engineer and keen photographer. He offers general technical
support to Gerald Durrell’s Corfu, including maintaining a photographic
archive and driving one of the minibuses. He is Lee Durrell’s partner and
together they are restoring an old house in Corfu.
DR BO SSE ST IL L E
Bo and his wife Marie each hold a BSc in biology and PhDs in Zoology. They
left Sweden and came to live in Corfu several years ago, bringing with them
expertise and knowledge in evolutionary ecology and zoology. Bo has a
special interest in herpetology and Marie in dragonflies.
DR PET ER G SUT TON BSc (Hons), DPhil. (Sussex), CSci., CChem., FRSC, FRES
Peter was born near Southend in Essex in 1968, and spent his childhood
growing up in the concrete entity of Crawley New Town in West Sussex. He
has studied insects, reptiles and amphibians since his earliest schooldays.
Peter went on to study chemistry and became involved in addressing global
pollution problems, before moving into teaching. He has a particular interest
in the Orthoptera and allied insects and has been the national recording
scheme organiser for this group since 2002. His combined interests in
chemistry and natural history have led to the publication of books about the
larger water beetles of the British Isles, the current status of the British and Irish
Orthopteroid insects, and many articles and papers in a variety of journals, 16
of which concern the invertebrate fauna of Corfu.GERALD DURRELL’S CORFU 2019
VENU E A N D A CCO MMODAT ION
The Study Centre at Villa Alexina consists Accommodation for course participants is
of a large open air, vine-covered terrace offered within walking distance of the Study
overlooking hills of olives and cypress with the Centre, although there are other options a
sea beyond, and a lecture room converted bit further away that would require hiring a
from an old olive press. Morning briefings, car.
talks, presentations, afternoon reflections and
the occasional BBQ (always with other food Alexina can supply a list of recommended
preferences available!) and Greek dancing accommodation within walking distance of
take place at the Study Centre. the Study Centre and can help you with the
booking arrangements.
From the Study Centre it is a short walk down
the hill to a local church where the mini- If you do choose to stay elsewhere,
buses are parked, ready to go for the day’s you are responsible for booking your
excursion. accommodation, and for arranging your
own transport to and from the Study Centre.
A little further on is the village of Perithia,
where there is a small convenience store and
several Tavernas. The store and one of the
Tavernas are owned and run by Spiro, who
has been a good friend to the course ever
since it started, so we tend to patronise his
establishments.GERALD DURRELL’S CORFU 2019
C O ST A N D B O OKIN G
I N F O R M ATI O N
The course fee is £600 per single adult and £1050 per adult couple.
There are places available for accompanied children (up to the age
of 16 at time of departure) for a fee of £350 per child.
Prices include tuition fees, minibus transportation for excursions
during the week plus a welcome party and farewell event (excluding
accommodation).
Please note that we plan to have some lunches in local Tavernas
while exploring Corfu during the week, but the cost of these is not
included in the package.
There will be several walking excursions, so participants should be
suitably fit and equipped with walking shoes and jackets. Do bring
binoculars if you have them.
Travel to and from Corfu, accommodation, travel & medical
insurance, are the responsibility of the participant.
For further information or to book a place, please contact
+44 (0)1534 860037 or email academy@durrell.org
D UR R EL L W I L D L I F E C ON SERVAT I ON T R UST
Durrell Conservation Academy, Les Augrès Manor,
La Profonde Rue, Trinity, Jersey, JE3 5BP
T +44 (0)1534 860037
E academy@durrell.org
W www.durrell.org/training
SAVING SPECIES FR OM EXTINCTIONYou can also read
