Located in the Hippodromo, a floral area with important Canary palms, Augustin Jerez Park was opened 30 years ago and is named after the doorman of the Spanish company Minas del Reve, Augustin Jerez Rodríguez, since he lived in front of the house. From the palm grove in this area. In the 1980s, palm trees on the Canary Island began to increase in number of species as some of them moved to Piazza San Lorenzo itself.
According to the history of the city itself, Agustín Jerez was one of the participants in the construction of the “most modern Melilla”.
Until 1980, as city concierge
He lived with his brother in a house located in the aforementioned area and designated for locomotive repair workshops. In front of his house, on the initiative of the engineer, Mr. Manuel Muñoz, a palm grove was installed at the beginning of the decade
Among the thirty that later ended up in San Lorenzo.
Agustín Jerez Park is a green, tree-lined half-hectare site, whose rectangular floor plan is outfitted with traditional benches with legendary Seville tiles.
Years ago, you could have found this site in the Hippodrome neighborhood surrounded by a wrought iron fence arranged as if it were an urban park, but the Ministry of Environment decided to implement a project that eliminated the aforementioned wall to integrate it into the Hippodrome neighborhood.
This park is lush with lush canary trees, date palms (Phoenix canariensis and Phoenix dactilifera), and native Washingtonias (Washingtonia filifera).
In communication with these media, Manolo Tapia, President of Guelaya Ecologists en Acción Melilla, explains the importance and uniqueness of the unique Canary Island palm trees throughout the autonomous city of Melilla.
“One of the peculiarities of this park is that it is also complemented by Mendez Nunez Street, which is the street famous for the famous oleander plant, because it is known among the people of Melilla. Manolo Tapia explains that the reason for the great popularity comes from the time when one of the most beautiful streets in Melilla was quite prosperous.
The peculiarity of the Agustín Jerez Garden is the palm trees indigenous to the Canary Island, which, according to the president of Galaya, “are closely linked to the history of Melilla because they are a spice indigenous to the Mediterranean.”
In addition, Melilla is characterized by its centuries-old palm trees, which are the unique heritage of the city.
“The Canary Islands palm tree is the heritage of the city. It is more beautiful than palm trees because it is thicker and greener. It is mixed with other types of palm trees such as the fan or hydrangea,” he confirms.
This invasive species of palm trees is the predatory red weevil that makes palm trees vulnerable. These species came in the 1990s from Egypt with imports from marine areas along the entire coast.
The head of Qalaia state says: “Among all the species, the species that most attacks palm trees is the red weevil because it represents the Achilles’ heel of the Canary Island palm trees.”
The value of these palm trees is inestimable in the city, unlike the rest of the palm trees installed in the city parks.
“Its ornamental value is much greater than other types of palm trees. “We have a heritage of centuries-old palm trees that form the hallmark of the Augustin Jerez Park,” says Manolo Tapia.
Regarding its fauna, it is noted that there is a group of black starlings that mix in winter with specimens of spotted starlings.
He adds: “This species uses palm trees on the Canary Island as a roost.”
