Corte will plant olive trees, holm oaks and mulberry trees to replace the bellasombra trees in Llorenç Villalonga Square

PalmThe Palma City Council will plant 36 trees, including olive, holm oak, and mulberry trees, to replace the beautiful shade trees it cut down in Llorenç Villalonga Square. This is the final proposal presented this Thursday by the Councilor for Infrastructure, Accessibility, and Industrial Parks, Belén Soto, at the Palma Verde Roundtable meeting. Representatives from various organizations, political parties, and neighborhood associations were present at the meeting. The proposal, according to a statement from the City Council, is the result of several meetings held with the Balearic Tree Association (ABA); the neighborhood associations of Calatrava, Canamunt, La Lonja-Born, La Seu, and Calatrava-Montisión-Santa Clara; and the Association for the Revitalization of Historic Centers (ARCA). The City Council analyzed the proposals and incorporated some, such as the restoration of existing trees, changes to the species, and the replacement of certain trees.

During Thursday's meeting, municipal technicians emphasized that the proposal is "agreed upon, viable, and adapted" to the historical character of the square, balancing "technical, environmental, and social" criteria. The final proposal maintains the total number of trees planned, now distributed across 18 flowerbeds instead of the 20 initially proposed. This will allow for the preservation of natural pedestrian flow and improve the permeability of the space. Regarding the structural soil, the project maintains the initially planned technical criteria, a solution that promotes the health and future development of the trees, improves water infiltration, and ensures the stability of the pavement. As for the infrastructure and street furniture, the City Council's plan remains largely unchanged, with the addition of two accessible benches. A total of 36 trees will be planted, 24 of which will be evergreen and 12 deciduous. These will include six olive trees, three holm oaks, twelve mulberry trees, seven Brazilian pepper trees, one bauhinia, and five cypress trees. Regarding the shrub and herbaceous vegetation, the general typology remains the same, except for the replacement of one species, and three flowerbeds will be converted into tree pits.

Residents believe that Cort's "change of attitude" does not diminish the distrust generated

The president of the Calatrava Neighborhood Association, Edita Navarro, one of the leaders of the Platform for the Defense of the Bellaombras trees, welcomed the City Council's openness to dialogue in designing the project. "We must value the participatory process, not only this Thursday, but also in the various meetings with associations and organizations. We hope this process will lead to greater transparency and participation in these decision-making processes," she stated. However, she believes this change in attitude does not compensate for the residents' sense of "loss" due to the felling of the Bellaombras trees, nor does it dispel the "distrust" generated between social organizations and the governing team. Navarro, for example, criticized the City Council for still not granting them access to the technical reports that would justify the felling. "They say we'll have them soon, but they've been saying that for three months," she pointed out. He also lamented that the municipal technicians had flatly refused to replant beautiful shade trees in the square, not even a single specimen "as a tribute."