New plots with the help of Sada’s students

9 May 2013

 
Photograph of the notarial actToday we met a group of students from the Sada y sus Contornos Elementary School at the offices of the Notary Mr. Óscar López Doval in Betanzos. The reason was to notarise the acquisition of several plots located in the woodlands of Espenuca (Coirós). The children witnessed how the money they raised by doing a charity market on Book Day was immediately invested in the purchase of 26,630 m2 of woodland.

Photograph in EspenucaThe acquired plots are spread throughout the woods, from the river’s edge (therefore within the protected natural space of SCI Betanzos-Mandeo) to the top of the hill. Except for 4.737 m2 of eucalyptus wood, it is all covered in deciduous forest. This acquisition will preserve the existing natural habitat and expand it with the removal of eucalyptus and subsequent reforestation with native species. The landscape will be enhanced too, as the eucalyptus, with their growth in height, break the harmony of the forest mass and hinder the view from the viewpoint at Espenuca.

Photograph in EspenucaFragas do Mandeo thanks the schoolchildren for their determined initiative to preserve local natural areas with their Voz Natura project titled “Land Stewardship and Biodiversity”. Their efforts and fund raising led to 2.105 m2 of woodland being bought to be preserved in perpetuity. As the children grow, so will the trees, and in the future these children will be able to look at them and think how much they were able to do when they were small kids.

We also thank the individuals who completed the amount needed to buy this group of plots. Do join these kids and adults taking an active part in the conservation of our region’s nature with a donation to Fragas do Mandeo, no matter how small. You can find additional information in section Joins us! or else you can contact us directly (see section Contact).


Charity market by Sada’s students

18 April 2013

 
In order to celebrate Book Day, the students of the Sada y sus Contornos Elementary School are going to set up a charity market with second-hand books at the school on April 23th. There they will put on sale children’s and young people’s books, and nature books too, provided by the schoolchildren themselves.

This activity has a twofold purpose: on the one hand, to promote reading between children by sharing the books they are interested in; on the other, to raise funds to support Fragas do Mandeo, as part of the school project Voz Natura. These funds will be fully earmarked for the acquisition of a land plot by the River Mandeo, with the aim of preserving its biodiversity for ever.

The charity market will be open to families and the general public in the afternoon, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the gymnasium. In the morning there will be another shift, from 12.15 a.m. to 2 p.m., only for the students.

We will be at the school in the afternoon to accompany them and to thank them for their contribution to direct action for the region’s nature conservation.


New acquisitions of land plots

2 April 2013

 
Photograph of the title deedThis afternoon we went to Betanzos to sign the purchase deed of two new woodland plots at the offices of the Notary Mr. Óscar López Doval. With this, the area currently being preserved by Fragas do Mandeo increased by 2,757 m2.

Both plots are located in Espenuca (Coirós), one of them on the top of the hill and the other on the banks of the River Mandeo, within SCI Betanzos-Mandeo. Oaks and other native species grow in both plots. Only minimal intervention will be required to remove some eucalyptus and young acacias.

Our gratitude to the individuals who contributed the money needed to purchase them. We encourage you to join those who take an active part in the conservation of our region’s nature by making a donation to Fragas do Mandeo, no matter how small it may be. This is the only way that land stewardship can progress. You can find additional information in section Do your bit! or else you can ask us directly (you can find the necessary information in section Contact).


Appointment at the Misión Biolóxica de Galicia

1 April 2013

 
Our next date to spread the word about the activities of Fragas do Mandeo and land stewardship as a means to preserve nature will be at the II Conference on Heritage in Rural Areas, which will be held on April 12 and 13 at the Misión Biolóxica de Galicia (institute for scientific research within the area of agriculture, located in Galicia).

This conference is organized by the Historical Heritage Department of Pontevedra Council. The aim is to offer a broad and plural overview of the recovery efforts and of the revitalization of local heritage, both cultural and natural. Fragas do Mandeo was invited to take part in the section dealing with experiences related to land stewardship initiatives on Saturday at 12.30 p.m., together with the Asociación Vaipolorrío and the Fundación Terra Termarum.

The place to hold the conference couldn’t be better: the Misión Biolóxica de Galicia. This institute for agriculture investigation has been located in Gandarón Palace (XVIIIth century) since 1928, and stands out for its work selecting more productive and resistant hybrids. The new lines of research are benefiting from its germplasm bank, which guarantees the preservation of the genetic resources of the Galician crops. It currently belongs to the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) (Spanish council for scientific research).

Place: Misión Biolóxica de Galicia (Gandarón Palace), in A Carballeira (Salcedo, Pontevedra).
Date: April 12 and 13.

You can find additional information by downloading the program.


Tomorrow’s charity market cancelled

30 March 2013

 
Because of last minute problems with the transport of stock and the equally worrying unstable weather, we have cancelled tomorrow’s market. We hope to hold this event soon.


Back to charity markets

22 March 2013

 
After receiving authorization from Betanzos Council, we will be starting the markets scheduled for this year on March 31st. As usual, it will take place in Do Campo Square from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Our volunteers will man a stall full of all kinds of items donated by our supporters: books, toys, figurines, handbags, costume jewelry, accessories, household articles, etc. Hopefully the weather will cooperate, since after a really rainy winter the spring seems to be starting in the same way.

With the income from these markets, the fund for nature conservation of As Mariñas can acquire land plots, cover the running and associated costs (notary, taxes, etc.), and guarantee that all the donations received are wholly used for the purchase of plots for land stewardship with the aim of preserving local landscape and biodiversity.


Dona guides Sada’s schoolchildren in Chelo

15 March 2013

 
This morning our mascot Dona led the children of Sada y sus Contornos Elementary School on their visit to Chelo by the River Mandeo. Bucking the trend, it didn’t rain and we enjoyed a lovely day in the country.

Photograph of Sada’s CEIP schoolchildrenThe schoolchildren got out of the bus in Queiris and Dona met them half-way, leading them to the nature classroom. There they were divided into two groups for talks by a CEM environmental monitor, who spoke about the river life, flora and fauna, the water cycle and the importance of keeping the river and its banks clean.

While the children were in the classroom, the adults walked to the bridge at Teixeiro, always preceded by Dona; they got to see the river fauna and learned the name of the plants that are in bloom at this time. Some of the observed species are protected, such as the Narcissus cyclamineus, reported as vulnerable in the Galician Catalogue of Endangered Species. They also saw invasive alien species that pose a threat to the ecosystem, among them flowers such as the crocosmia or trees like the black wattle. On their return they collected all the rubbish they found, in order to leave the natural area cleaner than when they arrived and so raising awareness of the need to engage in nature preservation.

Photograph of DonaThe children were delighted to meet Dona. She has spent several months telling them her adventures on our website, taking the opportunity to talk about the flora and fauna of the region, encouraging them to preserve nature and posing them all kinds of questions. Although the students have written her many e-mails that she answers one by one, this was the first time that they could run with her. At Fragas do Mandeo we understand that pets are the best way for children to come into contact with nature, facilitating their understanding of animal behaviour and helping them to develop both physically and emotionally.

The school organised this visit to Chelo within the framework of the Voz Natura project carried out to make known our region’s biodiversity, supporting Fragas do Mandeo in preserving it by means of land stewardship.

Thanks to the teachers of the college, the staff of CEM, the Environmental Guard Carlos Serantes and to the volunteers who joined us, the children enjoyed an unforgettable day getting to know the woods by the River Mandeo.


Spreading land stewardship

25 February 2013

 
Part of the raison d’etre of Fragas do Mandeo is the spreading and promotion of land stewardship in Galicia. We believe that if this formula is valid for the conservation of nature in the As Mariñas area, it can also be a useful tool in other areas.

During the two and a half years we’ve existed, we have been invited to participate in meetings and we have delivered many lectures explaining the origins of land stewardship and the nature of our work.

Today, we are delighted with the news that the seed sowed in Pontedeume and Fene (A Coruña) has taken root. The Stewardship Association of the Atlantic Forest Betula has just been formed. Its first 20 members are formalizing the entity’s incorporation, whose aim is to preserve the Atlantic forest that survives in the Valley of the River Eume.

We wish them a successful future.


Presentation in Ferrol

8 January 2013

 
This time the Natural History Museum of Ferrol will be the setting of the exhibition about the progress of Fragas do Mandeo in preserving biodiversity in As Mariñas by means of land stewardship. The meeting is on January 18, 8 p.m. at this centre created and managed by the Natural History Galician Society, located at Canido Square.

The Natural History Museum hosts unique pieces, including fossils of up to 15 million years old. Especially important is the section on marine species, among which there is a giant squid. The new facilities, recently opened to the public, have an exhibition area of 440 m2 that allow the public to enjoy this valuable collection. If you haven’t visited it yet, it is worth arriving early to see it before our talk.

If you are willing to spread the word about the event, you may download the poster at PDF format (print version) or at JPEG format (best format for e-mailing).


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