Wild flower walks
NATURE is set to launch her annual exhibition of wild orchids and tulips next month as the island’s spring colours draw visitors from home and abroad for nature walks, fundraisers and festivals.
Walkers will meet at 9am tomorrow at the entrance to Lefke European University for a 10am, 7km Orchid Valley circular walk to Bağlıköy which welcomes photographers and is free of charge.
Lefke Tourism Association head Hasan Karlıtaş said: “We offer a nature-themed photography exhibition, folk dancing show and refreshments on the day.”
Lapta Municipality also launches the Hisarköy Orchid Walk at 10am next Saturday and Sunday during their eighth Hisarköy Orchid Festival. Two days of dance, music, traditional food and crafts and children’s activities are promised from 1pm until late.
The festival fire will be lit each day at 4.30pm, when refreshments are offered before local rock concerts.
Bağlıköy village promises its own Ecoday festival from 10am-6pm on Sunday, March 11.
Endemic wild Medoş tulips are also about to bloom and will be celebrated next month with walks and festivals in Tepebaşı and Avtepe, in the Karpaz.
The 14th Tepebaşı Tulip Festival is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, March 17 and 18, with short trips to the tulip fields each day between 1pm and 2pm.
An eight-hour Sunday trek is also on offer which will set off in two groups from the Tepebaşı petrol station at 7.30am and 8am.
Avtepe also plans to hold its tulip festival and walk in early March, but details were not yet available this week.