Castelló Residents Mobilize to Save 200-Year-Old Monumental Pine Tree

The community in the Pont de Ferro neighborhood opposes the felling of the tree due to a municipal urban development project.

Image of a monumental pine tree in Pont de Ferro park in Castelló.
IA

Image of a monumental pine tree in Pont de Ferro park in Castelló.

Residents of the Pont de Ferro neighborhood in Castelló have launched a signature collection campaign to preserve a 200-year-old pine tree and another 70-year-old one, threatened by a new urban development project by the City Council.

The neighborhood mobilization has arisen from concerns that the urban development planned by the Castelló City Council, which includes housing and commercial premises, will lead to the removal of these trees. The older pine, a pinus halepensis, stands out for its dimensions: 21 meters high, a trunk three meters in circumference, and a diameter of almost one meter, with a vertical canopy projection of 53 square meters.

"We want to preserve this natural heritage."

Vicent Robles · Campaign initiator
Vicent Robles, supported by residents and the association of families from CEIP Soler i Godes, has launched a petition on Change.org that has already gathered over a hundred signatures. Additionally, leaflets have been distributed to seek further support to ensure the conservation of this natural ensemble.
This pine tree, considered a cherished neighbor by the community, holds significant sentimental value, especially for long-time residents. It also serves as a refuge for hundreds of birds, whose singing contributes to people's mental well-being, according to locals. Robles, an agro-environmental technician, emphasizes the tree's importance as an environmental rebalancing agent, particularly given the high pollution levels on Vall d'Uixó and Barcelona avenues.
The residents are not only calling for the preservation of the pine tree but also propose that the interior of the future urban block, where the tree is located, be maintained as an open public square. They trust that the Castelló City Council will decide to preserve the tree, even though construction work has already begun with land alignment and the demolition of some small structures.