Benidorm replants nearly 400 trees damaged by disease or vandalism

Benidorm City Council’s Department of Parks and Gardens, under the concessionaire Actúa, is removing and replanting around 400 trees injured by various causes throughout the municipality. According to the department’s councillor, José Ramón González de Zárate, a second phase is presently ongoing, which includes the most troublesome trees whose removal is causing problems on sidewalks and roadways in several neighbourhoods.

According to the City Council’s inventory, “We had identified between 300 and 400 trees that were experiencing problems due to old age, disease, or vandalism,” the councillor added. Given the circumstances, it was determined to act, and as a result, “we have already completed the first phase, which included around 200 trees that were easier to remove, and new trees have been planted in their place.” However, there are an additional 90 or 100 trees that were more difficult to remove due to their large roots. “The main problem is that if they are uprooted using the traditional method, the roots would also lift the pavements and pavements of the streets or avenues where they are located,” observed González de Zárate.

For this reason, the City Council uses cutting-edge gear for these jobs, which “crushes the tree trunk and allows for its removal much more easily and quickly, without causing damage.” The root remains in situ, but the machine’s action clears enough space and prepares the ground to plant a new tree right away. This method uses the machine’s crushed tree remains as organic matter for planting the new tree.

The streets of Avenida del Mediterráneo, Cuenca, Islandia, and Filipinas are undergoing work. “We’ve also already visited the Aigüera area, and the goal is to have visited all of the city’s neighbourhoods by the summer to replant the approximately 400 trees that have been removed,” said the park and garden department’s chief.