This autumn/winter more than 200 trees will be planted in the Sants-Montjuïc district
In June, the change from a ‘state of exceptionality’ to one of ‘hydrological alert’ in the Ter-Llobregat basin made it possible to introduce more flexibility in the use of water in Barcelona last summer: in a limited way, watering in the Sants-Montjuïc district's parks and gardens was resumed, always prioritising the use of groundwater. Now that the drought restrictions have been relaxed, the planting of trees, plants and seasonal flowers in green spaces can gradually recommence.
Between now and March 2025, the plan is to plant 204 trees in Sants-Montjuïc, in streets like Alumini, Arnes, Béjar, Gimbernat, Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, Guitard, Leiva, Mare de Déu de Port, Maria Victòria, Nou de la Rambla, Olivera, Pavia, Sugranyes and La Rambla Badal.
Over the last few months, most of the work done by the Parks and Gardens tree management teams has focused on the implementation of tasks arising from a review of the risk plan and on
the felling of dead trees – the result, at least in part, of the cumulative effects of drought in recent years. All trees in Barcelona are monitored at least every two years, as stipulated in the current risk plan. This proritisation has led to an imbalance in the regular pruning of trees in the city’s green spaces, and the rescheduling of forthcoming pruning campaigns. However, over 100 trees either have been, or will be pruned on each of the following streets during the current campaign: Alumini, Mare de Déu de Port, Segura, Passeig Zona Franca, Rambla Brasil, Plaça Carles Buïgas, Avda. L’Estadi and Carretera de Miramar.
A new contract comes into effect in the last quarter of 2024 for the manual cleaning of tree pits and/or weed clearance, and above all for the improvement of tree pits by topping up the soil where needed. It includes operations such as soil aeration, filling in with organic material any tree pits that may represent a hazard to pedestrians, plus the removal of drainage paving in poor condition, as well as other types of unauthorised coverings. During the first quarter of 2025, a total of 812 tree pits will be improved in the Sants, Hostafrancs, La Font de la Guatlla and El Poble-sec neighbourhoods.
This quarter will also see the full or partial revitalisation of the existing flower beds in the Sants, La Bordeta and Montjuïc neighbourhoods (830 m2, 24,704 flower beds) and the regular maintenance of the groups of mixed perennials.
Reclaiming green space
After four years of cumulative drought and the associated restrictions on watering and planting, during the last quarter of this year Parks and Gardens will begin the gradual process of reclaiming green spaces, especially in gardens located on the mountain of Montjuïc and in urban parks in all the local neighbourhoods:
- Sants
- Plaça de la Farga
- Can Mantega
- Hostafrancs
- Jardins de Ramon Aramon i Serra Gardens
- La Bordeta
- Rambla Badal
- La Font de la Guatlla
- Parc de la Font Florida
- La Marina
- Parc de Can Sabaté
- Jardins de la Mediterrània
- C/ Motors
- Montjuïc
- Font del Passeig de Santa Madrona
- Parc de la Primavera
- Jardins del Mirador de L’Alcalde
- Jardins de Miramar
- Avda. L’Estadi
- Jardins de Joan Maragall
The plan of action for this quarter also includes work on the twenty or so undeveloped plots in the Sants-Montjuïc neighbourhoods, where depending on the type of vegetation (in the interest of biodiversity), Parks and Gardens carries out one or two projects a year. And also maintenance work on seven ‘green walls’ in Sants and Badal.
