The Pego City Council has joined the Viles en Flor project, an initiative of the Fundació ASFPLANT whose objective is to protect, promote and encourage the improvement of green spaces through social awareness, as well as increasing the visibility of the green sector. This is a proposal that was put into operation in France (through the Villes et Villages Fleuris project, created in 1959) and which has been joined by similar initiatives such as Comuni Fioriti in Italy, Tidy Towns in Ireland, Britain in Bloom in the United Kingdom or Communities in Bloom in Canada.
With Viles in Bloom The aim is to recognise the trajectory and actions carried out by the Valencian municipalities that participate in the project, in the improvement and promotion of urban green spaces, their sustainable management, environmental education and citizen awareness in caring for the environment. In addition, it also aims to enhance the image of the municipalities in the eyes of visitors and tourists, and to generate spaces for training, reflection and debate on the sustainable management of the urban environment.
"It is not just about decoration, it goes beyond that, it seeks to promote pleasant spaces in which other values are taken into account to improve the quality of life of citizens such as the protection of green spaces, the conservation of urban furniture, the presence of playgrounds or parks for the elderly, social awareness about environmental sustainability policies or the development of the local economy through the attractiveness of urban gardens and parks," says the Councillor for Services and Urban Quality, and Tourism, Ricardo Sendra.
With this adhesion, Pego begins working dynamics with the entity, "professionals in the field advise the municipality on the lines to improve and work on," says the councillor. The work will be coordinated by the departments of Environment and Services and Urban Quality. The truth is that Pego starts this proposal with great expectations on both sides, the natural environment that surrounds it (both the mountain valley and the Marjal area). In this space, flora and fauna coexist, which the council is concerned with maintaining and caring for. As for the urban centre, the council has opted, in recent years, for a project to renew, improve and care for the trees. New plants and trees have been planted, and time has been dedicated to caring for the existing ones to promote their growth.
All this work, and what will be done from now on with this new agreement, is computerised to obtain the awards granted by the entity. The municipality will present its candidacy for the programme, a professional jury will visit Pego to issue a report and a score and classification will be awarded. Afterwards, the awards ceremony will be held.
The project already has the participation of more than 50 municipalities such as Calp, Alboraya, Alzira, Carcaixent, Castelló, Gandia, Sueca or Vinaròs, among others. "We believe that this is an interesting proposal with which to improve our lines of work related to the care of nature, with the adaptation of the municipality and also with promoting tourism, since this type of proposals favor the attraction of visitors," says the Councilor for Ecological Transition, Laura Castellà. The councilor adds that in environmental matters "it is a great agreement because the ASFPLANT Foundation can help us achieve sustainable green areas, also with reforestation and with the management of our green corners such as Muntanyeta Verda, Miserà or Calvari."
