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Yecla Shadow Plan: trees planted for shade during the scorching summer months
Large, fast-growing trees have been planted in schools, parks and along streets throughout Yecla
Yecla’s ambitious ‘Shadow Plan’ is complete, an initiative which has involved planting shade trees outside educational centres where summer schools are held to protect students and staff from the hot summer sun.
Before the trees were planted, workers installed drip irrigation systems so these open spaces will remain lush and naturally shaded for years to come.
According to Yecla’s Councillor for Education and Nursery Schools Sara Ortuño, it is a measure designed to promote sustainability and respect for the environment in educational centres. Through this, the council has swiftly responded to requests from families and teachers for some protection from the high temperatures frequently experienced in Yecla during the spring and summer.
“These works have been carried out during the Christmas holiday period and have allowed the land to be adapted, the drip irrigation system to be installed and the trees to be planted,” commented Ms Ortuño. The entire project cost 17,545 euros.More than 120 fruitless mulberry trees have been planted, a fast-growing species with a large trunk that will provide ample shade in a year or two.
The educational centres where the 'Shade Plan' has been implemented are 'La Paz', 'Herratillas', 'Miguel Ortuño', 'Méndez Núñez', 'San José de Calasanz', 'Giner de los Ríos', 'El Alba', 'La Pedrera' and 'Alfonso X'.
At La Pedrera school, 10 more trees have been planted to provide natural shade over the playground tracks.
But the initiative isn’t confined to the schools, as 6’500 new trees have also been planted along the streets and in public gardens throughout the municipality.
Today, Yecla has an impressive 18.2 trees per 100 residents, a figure well above the national average of 14.4 trees, according to a study published by the Spanish Association of Public Parks and Gardens.
These projects fall under the umbrella of Yecla’s overall strategy for the preservation and improvement of trees and green areas, which is carried out by the council and has an investment of 800,000 euros per year.
This initiative includes other public improvements, such as the installation of rubber slabs in children's play areas and the repair of stairs and railings in the garden on Avenida de la Feria, among others.
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Image: Ayuntamiento de Yecla
