Generations came together to plant trees where fire destroyed them near the Autodromo de Portimão

The 3,3 kilometer walk started the activity

Volunteers at the Burnt Pines

Children and seniors were the volunteers

Self-help connects generations in the same task

Isilda Gomes, president of the Chamber, also planted a tree

Vice President Castelão Rodrigues remembers his roots as an agricultural engineer, helping President Isilda Gomes

The GNR on horseback ensured the safety of the activity

Part of the volunteers in a group photo

GNR SEPNA always present

Last September, it only took a few hours for the fire to burn the forest to ashes, with the flames descending the slopes of the Serra de Monchique, from the heights of Fóia to the Algarve International Circuit. Now, to mark Forest Day, students from the EB1 School of Mexilhoeira Grande and senior users of the municipal program “Exercício e Saúde” spent this Tuesday morning planting trees next to the Portimão circuit.

And even mayor Isilda Gomes made a point of helping out, on a day when not even the threat of rain demobilized the group of excited volunteers.

The initiative began with a 3,3 km “Walk through the Forest” and ended with the planting of 100 native trees in one of the areas devastated by last year's fires, next to the Algarve International Circuit, in Portimão.

The trees were offered by the Institute for the Conservation of Nature and Forests and, at the end, to regain strength, there was a lunch offered by the Autodromo, at its premises.

“Walk through the Forest” is a partnership between the municipality of Portimão and the Nature and Environment Protection Service (SEPNA) of the Territorial Command of Faro from the GNR, with the support of Aspaflobal – Association of Forestry Producers of the Barlavento Algarvio, the Parish Council of Mexilhoeira Grande, the Municipal Civil Protection Service of Portimão, Delta Cafés and the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve.