The City Council's Parks and Gardens service has started works to replace old steel edging and the pavement separating the trees with a single, continuous tree pit. This action will promote vegetation growth, prevent damage to sidewalks, and create more welcoming and climate-resilient public spaces.
The main innovation is the replacement of individual tree pits with a continuous one, offering a much larger and shared soil volume for the roots. Furthermore, removing the impermeable pavement will allow rainwater to infiltrate directly into the subsoil, reducing pressure on the sewage system and preventing tripping hazards caused by deformed tiles.
The soil for the new trees has been enriched with biochar amendment, a material that acts like a microscopic sponge, retaining moisture and nutrients while keeping the soil permanently aerated. This will reduce irrigation needs, help trees withstand drought and heatwaves, and act as a carbon sink.
The new tree alignment, combining tipuanas (Tipuana tipu) and gleditsias (Gleditsia triacanthos), will connect with the future central axis of Llacuna Park. Tipuanas will provide generous, cool shade in summer, while deciduous gleditsias will allow sunlight to warm the square and surrounding shops in winter.
