Planting Day 14 May 2010
Our group of ‘Alien Invasion’ volunteers went to the Mini Reserve at the edge of the park, an area worn away by flood, and erosion due to quad bikes, cycles and so on - when the marked track is muddy people seek another route.
The aim of our work is to restore vegetation in this area at the side of the track – it can be seen on the photos to the left of the rope.
Park employees laid a mixture of plants out for us to use. Today we were concentrating on four species of native plants which can survive in extremely saline conditions.
Cuttings were taken from plants in the area near to the lake, then brought on to suitable size in a plant nursery. Today we planted them out.
It is hoped that they will increase and over time cover the bare area.
We stopped for a sandwich break in the middle and still finished in record time - just before the rain came!!
Representatives of the Comunitat Valenciana were extremely impressed at the speed of our work and the effort we put in, especially as conditions were far from ideal – it was windy and cold at times. They are very grateful to our group!
Jesus has lots of photos which he will share with us soon. Many thanks to everyone involved – it was very satisfying to continue our ‘hands on’ work for our beautiful park.
Saturday, 15 May 2010
Sunday, 18 April 2010
A group of us recently visited Bonellis Eagles near Crevillente. The weather was kind to us and we had a fabulous day out, wandering in the hills behind Jane and Colin's lovely property. We even saw some eagles! :) Lunch was served at 2pm - sandwiches and salad and good red wine, followed by delicous home made puddings like Lemon Meringue Pie - yum!
Rod took some great pics which I'm posting on our blog today - thanks Rod.
Let's hope this was the first of several summer outings this year - it's been a long winter....
Rod took some great pics which I'm posting on our blog today - thanks Rod.
Let's hope this was the first of several summer outings this year - it's been a long winter....
Sunday, 4 April 2010
Working party update
We've done a lot of work clearing the 'alien' plants, and have even been featured on Spanish television! The Information Centre has now been 'offically' opened (despite being open for over a year!) and several VIP visitors including our Mayor were welcomed at a reception.
We also enjoyed a family day recently to celebrate International Wetlands Day. Park staff organised various activities, where children could paint, make mobiles of birds to take home, and have a lovely picnic in the sunshine outside the Information Centre. Groups also went walking and bird watching.
We also enjoyed a family day recently to celebrate International Wetlands Day. Park staff organised various activities, where children could paint, make mobiles of birds to take home, and have a lovely picnic in the sunshine outside the Information Centre. Groups also went walking and bird watching.
Monday, 7 December 2009
Alien Invasion!!
Alien Invasion!
People living on the perimeter of the Natural Park of La-Mata-Torrevieja may have noticed in the last few weeks, a team of Natural Park workers pulling up plants and cutting down trees within the park and on its perimeter.
This is all part of a campaign now in full swing to rid the Park of foreign invasive plants, since the government of Valencia decreed in 2007 that only native vegetation should be present in the parks of Valencia Province.
Those householders who live on the edges of the Park have done their best in their way to brighten up their environment by ‘snatching’ extra bits of garden outside of their own property but unfortunately many of the plants they planted are not at all suitable because they have spread – in some cases like wildfire – into the Park to the detriment of native plants. Some of these, familiar to us all, are Prickly Pear, Aloe Yucca, Octopus Plant, Cat’s Claw (which some of us know as Mile a Minute, for obvious reasons), Acacia and worst of all, Spanish flag which has lots of pretty orange-red flowers.
All of these grow unchecked and choke the indigenous species and eventually take over. Worst of all many of these plants encourage mosquitoes – hence the problems around the salt lakes, which in themselves do not offer a friendly environment to the mosquitoes since the native plants which grow on the saline territory have no attraction for them. Where the alien plants thrive – so do the mosquitoes.
The campaign in the Park is to rid the areas within it and on its perimeter of these invasive plants. Information about the campaign will be given to those who live in Torreta 3 and El Chaparral in particular, and informative talks are to be given to the Presidents and neighbours of these areas.
The Park staff will be helped by groups of the Asociación of Volunteers of la Mata-Torrevieja, an international group, who help on a day to day basis with tasks in the Park. This campaign is ongoing and it will take many years to achieve the eradication of all the ‘bad’ plants. In their place native plants will be planted and the householders will be given alternative ‘good’ plants to replace those which are to be removed from the perimeter gardens.
Looking much further into the future if people are found tipping garden rubbish containing unsuitable plant refuse, or planting unsuitable plants, fines will be issued.
By Jenny Dodd
People living on the perimeter of the Natural Park of La-Mata-Torrevieja may have noticed in the last few weeks, a team of Natural Park workers pulling up plants and cutting down trees within the park and on its perimeter.
This is all part of a campaign now in full swing to rid the Park of foreign invasive plants, since the government of Valencia decreed in 2007 that only native vegetation should be present in the parks of Valencia Province.
Those householders who live on the edges of the Park have done their best in their way to brighten up their environment by ‘snatching’ extra bits of garden outside of their own property but unfortunately many of the plants they planted are not at all suitable because they have spread – in some cases like wildfire – into the Park to the detriment of native plants. Some of these, familiar to us all, are Prickly Pear, Aloe Yucca, Octopus Plant, Cat’s Claw (which some of us know as Mile a Minute, for obvious reasons), Acacia and worst of all, Spanish flag which has lots of pretty orange-red flowers.
All of these grow unchecked and choke the indigenous species and eventually take over. Worst of all many of these plants encourage mosquitoes – hence the problems around the salt lakes, which in themselves do not offer a friendly environment to the mosquitoes since the native plants which grow on the saline territory have no attraction for them. Where the alien plants thrive – so do the mosquitoes.
The campaign in the Park is to rid the areas within it and on its perimeter of these invasive plants. Information about the campaign will be given to those who live in Torreta 3 and El Chaparral in particular, and informative talks are to be given to the Presidents and neighbours of these areas.
The Park staff will be helped by groups of the Asociación of Volunteers of la Mata-Torrevieja, an international group, who help on a day to day basis with tasks in the Park. This campaign is ongoing and it will take many years to achieve the eradication of all the ‘bad’ plants. In their place native plants will be planted and the householders will be given alternative ‘good’ plants to replace those which are to be removed from the perimeter gardens.
Looking much further into the future if people are found tipping garden rubbish containing unsuitable plant refuse, or planting unsuitable plants, fines will be issued.
By Jenny Dodd
Link to Libros International website
For great books by local and international authors visit
http://www.librosinternational.com/index.php
http://www.librosinternational.com/index.php
Tuesday, 1 December 2009
next meeting
As well as our talk with slides tomorrow given by Ray Marsh (our meeting room 10.00 am), we have our regular monthly meeting at 10.00 next Thursday. We have a visitor - Gina from Torrevieja Clinica Central, who's coming to tell us about the new District Nurses scheme, which should be of interest and benefit to many of us. Look forward to seeing you
M
M
Camping with Wolves
Look out for a great new book by our very own ex-member Heinke Pauly (Woodbridge). It'll be on Amazon soon. It's called 'Camping with Wolves' and recounts Heinke's camping trip through Spain following in the steps of Laurie Lee. It's great fun and easy reading (even has a dog narrator in parts!) If you can't wait for it on Amazon let me know ad I'll pre-order it for you from Heinke - she lives in the bulding next door! :)
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