The Mayor, José Ballesta, accompanied by the Councilor for Modernization of the Administration and Urban Development, José Guillén, visited this morning the Palm Grove of Santiago and Zaraíche in which is developing a pilot experience of treatment against the red palm weevil using the fungus Beauveria bassiana, combined with classic treatments.
In this way, an innovative system of control against the red palm weevil is applied through biological treatments with fungi (which colonize the insect and weakens the immune system to death) guaranteeing the good health of the specimens.
In addition to being safe and sustainable, this treatment is just as effective as traditional methods.
During the last months, different actions have been carried out for the continuous improvement of this green lung of more than 9,000 square meters.
Thus, in addition to carrying out the cleaning tasks of the palm trees last July, they have planted fruit species such as ten pomegranates, poplars opposite the entrance to the palm grove and six citrus units (orange and lemon trees).
Myrtle bushes, don Pedro and lilies have also been placed to delimit the roads and a classic bench has been recreated with the plantation of alfalfa and other native plants.
To this is added the irrigation carried out approximately every two months based on the old irrigation system for opening and closing the planks, opening some floodgates to let the water run and closing others so that it arrives correctly at its destination, starting from of the contribution of flows from the Acequia Zaraíche by the west and the network of drainage of surplus waters, made by the Azarbe del Cantino to the east.
The Mayor, José Ballesta explained that "the goal of all these actions is to create a space that resembles the old orchards of Murcia allowing Murcians have a new area to stay in this natural enclave and know the traditional landscape of the municipality.
We have recovered and returned to the residents of the municipality this historic garden and we will continue working on its maintenance and improvement because this natural corner is a pride for Murcia ".
The maintenance work in the Palm Grove is done twice a week with clearing, the irrigation of species that require it and the meticulous review of all the palms.
Also this enclave, which has more than 600 palm trees (some with more than 200 years), is already being used for the development of outdoor activities, premiered last July with the programming of 'Murcia in summer' thanks to which have been developed in this place classes of painting and yoga and pilates.
The City Council is already working on the preparation of the second phase of the recovery project of the Palm Grove of Santiago and Zaraíche thanks to which new copies of palm trees will be planted, especially production females, the channels of the irrigation ditches will be revegetated, the plantations of fruit trees and herbaceous plants, this green space will be illuminated and more living areas will be installed.
The Palm Grove of Santiago and Zaraíche, cataloged like Environmental Patrimony and Landscape of the municipality of Murcia, began a deterioration process towards the end of the 70s and its property was acquired by the City Council in 2014.
The recovery works of the area, framed in the Plan of Action of the Huerta de Murcia, have involved an investment of close to 70,000 euros.
Source: Ayuntamiento de Murcia