3 Jun 2025

JANUARY-MAY NEWS

by | posted in: 2025 Clearing, Karia trail, path clearing, publications, The Retsina Trail, Uncategorized, Volunteers, Volunteers, Wildlife conservation | 0

At last our latest book about the amphibians and reptiles of Skopelos, over a month later than expected, has arrived and is on the shelves. We are very happy with the result, after putting in a lot of hard work plus toing and froing between us and the printer. We have already started on our next publication which will hopefully be ready by Easter 2026.

We started trail clearing this year on 24 January and stopped 23 May. In spite of a lot of rain in February, altogether, I worked 42 days and with the help of three Workaway volunteers throughout that period and six others, we reopened and carried out maintenance on the following trails:

Vouno Glossa, The Gorge, Klima to Kosta, Ag Marina, Anania, Dymaka, Platanakia, Abuzali, Myli spring, Moutero, Petrovrissi, Prof. Ilias church, Djelili, Karyia and Skleri.

I’d like to mention and thank my Workawayers: Chris Stofel from Austria, who played a huge part in reopening the old Gorge trail from Djelili to Kriavrissi, Sina and Jana from Germany plus local helpers Marko Kazandzic, Thomas and his wife Andrea, Chris and his wife Angela plus Johan Uthus.

We start again in September.

30 Apr 2025

MICHALAKIS

by | posted in: 2025 Clearing, Uncategorized, Volunteers, water and springs | 1

Regular visitors will have noticed that vegetation has been removed around the area and steps cut into the slope near the archway to enable access to the upper level, where the remains of the water canal that fed the mill can be seen. This work has been carried out by Georgos Papalapas. He seems to have adopted the area and we can all benefit from his enthusiasm to keep it looking beautiful. He’s also dug in some steps near the water source where a trail leads up to the dirt road. Someone else has cut down several plane trees however, which has changed the landscape. This has been reported to the Forestry department.

As well as the above, Georgos has placed a bench beside the pond, no doubt made in his family workshop Made of Wood www.madeofwood.gr

This got me thinking…. would you perhaps like to sponsor a bench like this in memory of a loved-one, pet or simply because you’d prefer to rest comfortably and admire the view on one of your favorite trails? The bench can also be engraved with words of your choice. Skopelos Trails would install and maintain it. The cost would be €185 plus €50 for an engraving.

2 Apr 2025

February/March News

by | posted in: 2025 Clearing, Ancient sites, General Announcements, path clearing, The Retsina Trail, Volunteers, Volunteers, Wildlife conservation | 0

Chris Stofel from Austria arrived via Workaway. A landscape garden by profession, he had a lot of hiking experience, loved flora and fauna, could handle a chainsaw and made You Tube videos about his adventures! After doing a bit of maintenance work at Djelili and Potami/Diakopi, we decided to go for it and reopen The Gorge. In fact he welcomed the challenge. In spite of many rainy days, it took us just 9 days. It was also great that he was here for the Carnival as he was able to include that in his video about Skopelos Trails. This is a link to his You Tube video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJfDm8KFE6U&t=63s Skopelos Workaway: Hidden Paradise of Greece. He has made many other travel videos under the name STRAWANZA.

Next up was Sina, a 23 year old medical student from Germany. She was strong and willing to take on any job that presented itself. We tried unsuccessfully to find a better trail head for the Gorge but at least cut away a lot of undergrowth to reveal the ruins of a lime kiln. We then cut away a A LOT of smilax that was blocking a portion of the Gorge. During her stay, we also carried out maintenance work at Ag Marina (3 days), Palouki (1 day) Anania, Pirgos (3 days), Dymaka, Pirgos (2 days) and made a start at Ag Reginos/Platanakia (1 day).

On Sunday 6 April, I will be conducting a guided hike of the Gorge. We will drive to the trail head from Kastro car park, setting off at 10.30am. The Gorge itself takes about 1.1/2 hours to walk, one way. There are trees to crawl under, rocks to climb over and narrow paths with a sheer drop. Hiking here is at your own risk. Please let me know if you intend to go/want to car share. Please remember that this gorge has been the undisturbed habitat for many species of flora and fauna. We must respect this.

My April volunteer has recently cancelled so it looks as if I will have an enforced rest. Let’s see!