The Palmetum of Santa Cruz is nearing the conclusion of the works that commenced last January, aimed at enhancing the botanical garden with a new lake and a bird watching “hide”. These new facilities, developed in conjunction with Fundación Cepsa, will form a new section named after Papua New Guinea, which is expected to open to the public in December, following the completion of the entire area involving the planting of new species.
The mayor of Santa Cruz, José Manuel Bermúdez, emphasises that “thanks to these enhancements, bird watching can emerge as a fresh attraction for this botanical garden, a sustainable space that has received international awards on multiple occasions.” He also underscores that “the Palmetum serves as a symbol for Santa Cruz, through which more than 500,000 visitors have passed over the last decade.”
The Councillor for Infrastructure and Maritime Park and Palmetum, Javier Rivero, indicated that these renovations, which are part of a broader initiative to expand the botanical garden, “will surely attract new visitors, thereby increasing the daily average we currently enjoy, which exceeds 230 visitors per day, although at times we have seen over 500 individuals in a single day.”
Belen Machado, head of Fundación Cepsa in the Canary Islands, expressed her delight about the imminent completion of projects that align with the entity’s aims. “Our Foundation is dedicated to the conservation and restoration of biodiversity through various initiatives within the capital of Tenerife, including several projects at the Palmetum, such as this new lake featuring a bird watching hide. We aim to contribute to biodiversity enhancement by expanding the botanical collection and attracting more birds. It will also serve as an educational space for environmental awareness that, without a doubt, will pique the interest of the community due to its engaging content.”
With the introduction of this new area, the Palmetum caters to the desires of visitors, which have steadily increased each year. They will be able to experience more pathways and a lake, along with the previously mentioned “hide” for bird watching— a concealed structure from which to observe and photograph wild birds without disturbing their natural behaviours.
Since its inception ten years ago, the number of bird species that nest or utilise the garden during migration has surpassed 90, making this observation point an additional attraction for those visiting the Palmetum.
In the coming days, planting will commence to cover the viewing structure, allowing visitors to observe birds without alerting them to their presence. This new planting will showcase fascinating species such as araucarias, palm trees, various types of banana trees, breadfruit trees, and dwarf coconut palms.
The project commenced in January 2024, with a budget of 316,281.32 euros, supported by the contributions of the Santa Cruz City Council and in collaboration with Fundación Cepsa. The work has been undertaken by Eco Civil, with technical direction from Fernando Aguarte, Javier Pérez-Alcalde Schwartz, and Jorge Díaz.