Arboretum Marbella is an environmental charity creating a people’s forest in Marbella. Its aims are to create a public park of native plants and trees which is a site for conservation, education and a beautiful green space for everyone to enjoy. All their actions are aimed at informing and inspiring Marbella’s residents and tourists to become more aware of the importance of nature and protecting it by becoming more sustainable and less environmentally damaging.
Since the start on the 4th May 2011, when the Town Hall gave the project a 10 hectare stretch of waste land from behind Marbella’s bus station, a huge amount of work has gone into the creation of the people’s forest which now has more than 17,000 trees, plants and shrubs. Tons of rubbish had to be initially cleared from the site and then rocks had to be removed and the soil turned and prepared for planting. Since that point volunteers, supporters, businesses and schools have all come together to plant trees, create an organic vegetable garden and educate the community. In its second year they welcomed 1,700 students, planted 7,092 trees and plants and undertook 235 activities and events with over 2,000 participants.