Flora and Fauna

FLORA & FAUNA Gibraltar Botanic (Alameda) Gardens

The land for the Alameda Gardens was dedicated in 1816, outside the city walls. It was the vision of General Sir George Don who wanted to create a place where the people of the Garrison could stroll in peace.

Trees are central to the beauty of the gardens and the name means “Poplar Grove. ” There are many trees now well over 200 years old as they were mature at the time the garden was formed.

A period of neglect allowed the gardens to go to ruin but in 1990 a programme of revitalisation began which finished in 1996 with the completion of the beautiful outdoor theatre.

The main walkway leading from the Rock Hotel entrance features an exhibition of the different groups of plants found all over the world while other areas are dedicated to the unique plant life of Gibraltar.

Alameda Gardens

Flora and Fauna, Birds and Butterflies

Gibraltar has over 600 species of wild flowers, some of which are unique to the Rock such as the Gibraltar Sea Lavender and Gibraltar Chickweed.The Rock is

the only place in Europe that the Gibraltar Candytuft grows.

Gibraltar ’ s position between Europe and Africa, the Atlantic and the Mediterranean makes it an important crossing point for migrating birds, whales and dolphins. Migration counts in Gibraltar have reached 11,500 birds of prey, of up to fifteen species in a single day during peak movements.The Rock is a popular location for bird watchers.

Gibraltar has its own unique bird, the Barbary Partridge. Like the macaque, the bird was imported by the British during the 18

th

century and the ones that live here are unique to Europe though native to Morocco and Algeria.

Butterflies also migrate along the same path, and on a calm spring day the Painted Lady Butterflies are sometimes spotted.

Rock Monkeys

One of Gibraltar

’ s more popular attractions is the monkeys which live on the Nature Reserve upper rock.

They are often called Barbary Apes but they are tailless Macacas Sylvanus. One of the popular stories about the monkeys comes from World War II.When Winston Churchill was in Gibraltar he worried that the apes would die out and provide propaganda for the enemy (legend has it that when the macaque leave Gibraltar so will the British). He ordered the military authorities to care for the macaque, and to import more if necessary, which they did until July 1992 when the government took over their care.

There are now 230-240 apes living in five packs on the Rock and they are a major tourist

Alameda Gardens