Improvement of the habitat, through the creation of vegetal margins

1.- Estate management:

Over the last few years, the crops grown on the 10.66 hectare Torre del Codina farm have diversified. It has gone from a single cereal monoculture to 3.5 ha. olive and vine. 4.8 ha. of cereals and legumes, in addition to the 2.3 ha. uncultivated, where a variety of trees and shrubs have been planted such as: oaks (Quercus ilex), oaks (Celtis australis), cypresses (Cupressus sempervivens), figs (Ficus carica), serveres (Sorbus domestica), Buckthorn (Rhamus alaternus), Pomegranate trees (Punica granatum). The growth of the hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), the mastic (Pistacia lentiscus), the small-leaved elm (ulmus minor), the cypress (Juniperus oxycedrus), the holly (Olea europaeasylvestris) has been favored etc.

 

2.- Area of ​​ecological interest:

The property is within the scope defined by Tàrrega City Council in the Catalog and the Special Protection Plan. of the Natural Heritage of Tàrrega developed in 2006, as an Area of ​​Ecological Interest “Les Garrigues” and within the territorial scope of the Protected Natural Areas (PEIN), of the Secans of Lleida, ZEPA space, Xarxa Natura 2000 of Granyena.

 

3.- Organic farming farm:

The farm of 10.66 ha. it is organic farming, registered with the Catalan Council for Ecological Agricultural Production, where a significant part of its surface, 2.30 ha, is allocated. in agroforestry space, to favor the maintenance of habitats and biodiversity.

 

4.- Rural house with Biosphere Certification:

The existing building on the farm is used as a rural tourism house specialized in ecotourism and with the “Biosphere” certification, for social, economic, ecological and cultural sustainability, included in the 17 sustainable development objectives of the Agenda 2030 of the United Nations.

 

5.- Subsidized project for the year 2023-2024 in the natural spaces of Catalonia, habitats and species, within the framework of the Rural Development Program of Catalonia 2014-2022 by the Department of Territory and Sustainability of the Generalitat of Catalonia

Creation of oak forest margins, to expand and restore the habitat of community interest: Oak forest of Quercus ilex and Quercus rotundifolia (code 9340, annex I of Directive 92/43/EC), in spaces of 1,455 m2, in four strips of a total of 291 meters in length by five meters in width.

 

6.- Actions taken:

6.1.- Preparation and planting of 175 trees with planting frames. of 8 m., along the 291 linear meters of strip, at a minimum distance between trees of 2 m and the fertilizer, and first irrigation of the following species:

40 one QUERCUS ILEX	CONT. 10 LTS.
15 one ACER MONSPESSULANUM	CONT. 10 LTS.
10 one REGIA JUGLANS WALNUT	CONT. 3.5 LTS.
10 one SAVINA JUNIPERUS PHOENICEA	CONT 10 LTS.
10 one PERELLONER PYRUS SPINOSA	CONT 10 LTS.
15 one DOMESTIC SORBUS SERVER	CONT 3.5 LTS.
15 one OM COMU ELMUS MINOR	CONT 10 LTS.
15 one CADEC JUNIPERUS COMMUNIS	CONT 10 LTS.
20 one SPIDER PRUNUS SPINOSA	CONT 3.5 LTS.
15 one TAMARIU AFRICAN TAMARIX	CONT 10 LTS.
10 one OAK F. P QUERCUS FAGINEA	CONT 3.5 LTS.

 

6.2.- Preparation and planting of 235 plants and shrubs, as part of planting. of 2 m. (1.4 m x 1.4 m), along the 291 linear meters of strip, with fertilizer and first irrigation, of the following species:

20 one RHAMUS LYCIOIDES

20 one ETRUSCAN HONEYCOMB

20 one LIGABOSC LONICERA XYLOSTEUM

20 one SPARTIUM JUNCEUM

25 one COLUTEA ARBORESCENS

20 a PISTACEA LENTISCLUS

25 one RHAMUS ALATERNUS

20 one ALADERN FP PHYLLIREA ANGUST.

25 one PUNICA GRANATUM

20 one CRATAEGUS MONOGYNA

20 one AMELANCHIER OVALIS

6.3.- Collection of 300 gorse and oak acorns in mid-autumn around the farm, conservation and subsequent manual sowing at a depth of 2-3 cm.

 

7.- Result of the action:

Trees, shrubs and acorns will be planted during the week between March 18 and 22, shortly after the generous rains of March 8 and 9 that left the land well seasoned. During that week it was watered every day after planting, and the rains of March 25 and 26 were providential to keep the soil moist until mid-April when, due to high temperatures, it was again irrigate the entire plantation, until the generous rains arrived from April 26 to 30, which left the land irrigated until well into mid-May, waiting for new rainfall. Now the whole plantation is responding well and despite the fact that some species of plant have suffered at the beginning, new shoots are sprouting in all of them which make it possible to foresee a good rooting of the plant.