The municipality of El Puerto de Santa MarÃa has taken a new step in the recovery of Guadalete Park with a mass planting of trees and shrubs This project re-establishes this green space as a benchmark for environmental restoration in Andalusia. The work, carried out on the site of the former landfill that was closed at the beginning of the century, reinforces a long-term project in which citizen participation has become a key element.
This time, the initiative has focused on the planting of 500 new specimens among native trees and shrubs, with the direct involvement of Primary students and people with disabilities. In addition to increasing forest cover, the activity aims to bring young people closer to the reality of climate change and pollution, showing them in a practical way how they can contribute to the regeneration of their local ecosystems.
A repopulation project with 500 trees and 250 schoolchildren as the main participants
The operation has been coordinated by the Municipal Service for Environment, Mobility and Beaches, which thus continues with the Guadalete Park reforestation programThe following people participated in the event: 250 schoolchildren Students from the fifth grade of Primary School at the CEIP Costa Oeste, CEIP El Juncal, CEIP Pinar Hondo and Safa San Luis Gonzaga schools, as well as users of the Apadeni association, who have joined the initiative as part of the Municipal Educational Offer.
The workplace has been an area of 70 hectares Located between the Guadalete River and the Las Salinas Industrial Estate, where a new peri-urban forestEach group of schoolchildren collaborated in placing the seedlings, following the instructions of the technical staff and respecting the necessary distances to ensure proper development of the vegetation.
To ensure the success of the planting, the children have had a previous hole carried out by municipal workers, which has facilitated the work on the ground. In addition, water tankers, enriched soil, hoes, buckets, and cane stakes have been made available to them. biodegradable protectors, materials that allow for improved survival of specimens during their first years.
The activity has been developed in an educational, but also very practical environment, in which the participants have been able to learn on the ground what steps are necessary for a newly planted tree to adapt correctly. From the preparation of the hole From the placement of the tutor to the initial watering, each phase has been explained by the specialized staff.
The accompaniment of Municipal Service for the Conservation of Forest Areas And the team from the Center for Environmental Education and Activities in Nature (CEAAN) has been constant, resolving doubts and supervising that the planting was carried out properly to avoid damage to roots and seedlings.
Native species for a diverse Mediterranean forest
The list of species used in the plantation has been designed to create a Mediterranean forest adapted to the environment and resistant to local weather conditions. Among the 500 specimens planted in Guadalete Park are trees such as the Aleppo pine and the carob, along with shrub species such as the wild olive, the tamarisk, the buckthorn and the olive tree.
In areas closest to the riverbed and areas with higher relative humidity, the decision has been made to introduce tamarisk, a species highly tolerant of saline and waterlogged soils, suitable for the banks of the Guadalete River. Meanwhile, the buckthorn and the wild olive complete the shrub layer, providing shelter for wildlife and increasing the park's plant diversity.
This combination aims to create a a more balanced forest systemcapable of withstanding episodes of intense heat, recurring droughts, and strong winds. At the same time, the park's capacity to function as a carbon sink and as an ecological corridor for birds and other animals is increased.
The technicians involved in the project have stressed the importance of selecting local and well-adapted species, as this reduces irrigation and maintenance needs in the medium term. The goal is not just to plant treesbut to consolidate a mature forest that can evolve autonomously over the years.
From closed landfill to a great green lung for the municipality
The area now known as Guadalete Park was for decades a open-air landfillIt was used as a dumping ground for construction waste and other materials. The Andalusian Regional Government ordered its closure in 2001, and from that moment on, decontamination and soil sealing work was carried out, lasting until 2008.
After that technical phase was completed, the land became municipal property and a gradual transformation began aimed at converting the old spoil heap into a forest park. The CitySince then, in collaboration with social and educational entities, it has promoted successive planting campaigns and infrastructure improvements.
In recent years, the following have been planted more than 10.000 trees and shrubs within the park, thanks to the participation of residents, associations, youth groups, and educational centers. This accumulated effort has allowed a significant portion of the park to now have well-established vegetation, with medium and tall specimens.
In addition to reforestation, interventions have been carried out to provide the park with perimeter fencing, furniture and signageas well as paths and rest areas. All of this has helped transform the former landfill into an accessible and usable environment for the public, with a clear focus on green leisure.
The evolution of Guadalete Park has been reinforced by initiatives such as the Green Leisure Campus, which organizes regular activities to promote responsible use of the natural environment and strengthen the bond between the local population and this area in full recovery.
Environmental learning and practical science with students
The planting of the 500 trees has not been limited to a simple symbolic gesture, but has been integrated into a broader educational program coordinated by the Green Leisure Campus and CEAAN. The goal is for each reforestation day to also serve to reinforce knowledge about ecology, soils, water and biodiversity.
During the activity, the schoolchildren worked in small groups doing soil pH measurementsin order to determine its acidity level and obtain clues about the condition of the soil. This type of practical exercise introduces students to simple yet very useful methods of environmental analysis for interpreting the health of an ecosystem.
The instructors explained how the previous contamination The fill materials used in a spoil heap can alter soil characteristics, affecting both water retention and nutrient availability. Emphasis has also been placed on the importance of sealing and restoration work to ensure that vegetation can develop normally.
In addition to the more technical aspects, activities have been organized on the respect and conservation of forestsThis highlights the need to give nature time to regenerate and the importance of caring for trees during their early years. In this way, young people are encouraged to see the park as their own and become involved in its future upkeep.
The combination of fieldwork and simple explanations has allowed students to better understand how soil quality, water, and species selection influence the success of reforestation. It's not just about plantingbut to understand why and how it is done so that the effort has visible results in the medium and long term.
A participatory environmental restoration model
The school and neighborhood repopulation efforts carried out in Guadalete Park have achieved regenerate about 80% of its surfacewhich today is beginning to show a remarkable array of trees in various areas. This gradual recovery has turned the area into an example of how citizen involvement can accelerate the transformation of degraded land.
The working model is based on collaboration between local government, educational centers and associative networkCombining targeted planting efforts with ongoing monitoring, this approach has proven effective in maintaining interest in the park and attracting new participants each year.
The experience of Guadalete Park has had a ripple effect on other areas of the municipality that have also suffered the impact of fires or plagues. Among them, the following stand out: Cuvillo pine forest, the Coig and the Isleta hunting reserve, where forest recovery actions have been carried out in which students and different groups have once again played an active role.
Beyond increasing the wooded area, this participatory restoration approach helps to strengthen a a more deeply rooted environmental culture in the population, especially among younger generations. By seeing the growth of the trees they themselves planted, schoolchildren directly perceive the positive impact of their contribution.
The City Council and municipal technical services plan to continue with new planting and maintenance campaigns in the coming years, with the aim of complete the regeneration of the park and consolidate it as a large green lung on the riverfront of El Puerto de Santa MarÃa, integrating recreational, educational and conservation uses.
With the recent planting of 500 new trees and shrubsGuadalete Park adds another piece to its ongoing transformation, turning a former landfill into a landmark forest. The combination of technical expertise, school participation, and community involvement has paved the way for a greener, more diverse, and more resilient park, which now stands as a symbol of how environmental restoration can go hand in hand with education and social engagement.
