On the Valcorchero estate, an innovative initiative has been carried out that combines landscape restoration, biodiversity improvement and natural land demarcation. The project consisted of the rehabilitation of an old stone wall that demarcates the estate from an adjacent private property, accompanied by the installation of a living plant barrier along this boundary.
The action included the scattered introduction of native species —Crataegus monogyna, Rubus ulmifolius and Pyrus bourgaeana— together with cork oak seedlings (Quercus suber) obtained from acorns collected on the estate itself. These species represent different layers of the Mediterranean ecosystem, contributing in the long term to the formation of a natural, biodiverse and functional boundary.
To ensure the development of the vegetation, a linear protective fence has been installed, which has favoured both the survival of the seedlings and the natural regeneration of the environment. Two years after its implementation, the results are encouraging:
- 🌿 The wall looks visibly greener, especially thanks to the rapid growth of Rubus ulmifolius, which has colonised the stone naturally and vigorously.
- 🌸 The appearance of new specimens of Crataegus monogyna and Pyrus bourgaeana has also been noted, reinforcing the diversity of shrubs.
- 🌳 As for the tree layer, several seedlings of Quercus suber have survived, and individuals of Quercus ilex and Celtis australis have emerged spontaneously, thanks to the favourable conditions created by the fencing.
This linear vegetation infrastructure not only serves a practical function as a natural barrier, but also contributes to the ecological and landscape balance of the dehesa ecosystem, facilitating connectivity between habitats and providing shelter and food for wildlife.
A simple intervention, based on local ecological knowledge, that demonstrates how natural design can be effectively integrated into public and private land management practices.
More measures at the Valcorchero farm here.
