Benidorm replants nearly 400 trees damaged by disease or vandalism

Benidorm City Council's Department of Parks and Gardens, through the concessionaire Actúa, is removing and replanting approximately 400 trees damaged by various causes throughout the municipality. According to the councillor for the department, José Ramón González de Zárate, a second phase is currently underway, which includes the most problematic trees whose removal was causing problems on sidewalks and roadways on some streets. According to the list compiled by the City Council, "we had detected between 300 and 400 trees that were experiencing problems due to old age, disease, or vandalism," the councillor explained. Given this situation, it was decided to take action, and in that regard, "we have already completed the first phase, which included approximately 200 trees that were easier to remove, and new trees have been planted in their place." However, there are approximately another 90 or 100 trees whose removal was more difficult due to the size of their roots.

"The main problem is that if they are uprooted using the traditional method, the roots would also lift the sidewalks and pavements of the streets or avenues where they are located," González de Zárate indicated.

For this reason, the City Council relies on more advanced machinery for these tasks that "crushes the tree trunk and allows for much easier and faster removal without causing damage." The root remains in place, but the machine's work leaves enough space. The land is prepared for the immediate planting of a new tree. With this method, the remains of the tree crushed by the machine serve as organic matter for planting the new tree.

Work is underway on Avenida del Mediterráneo and the streets of Cuenca, Islandia, and Filipinas. "We have also already visited the Aigüera area, and the goal is to have visited all the city's neighbourhoods before summer to replant the approximately 400 trees that have been removed," concluded the head of Parks and Gardens.