Back in time Hidden history

MORE than 30 people took part in a guided visit to Es Capdella (Calvia) at the weekend to learn about the area’s history as a concentration camp during the Spanish Civil War.

Participants learned that what is now one of the most idyllic spots in Calvia, Sa Coma, housed a camp managed by Franco’s troops for 150 Republican prisoners between the beginning of 1937 and the end of 1938.

Prisoners were reportedly sent there without trial and forced to perform manual labour for exhausting periods, without basic hygiene or medical attention, with terrible food and sleeping on the floor in animal stables.

Under those conditions they reportedly built many of the roads in the area that are still used every day by drivers and cyclists. The camp in Sa Coma was one of many similar installations set up by the Fascist troops throughout Spain during the Civil War.

CAPDEPERA travelled back in time at the weekend as more than 30,000 residents and visitors enjoyed the yearly medieval market at the foot of the castle.

From Friday (May 19) until Sunday, the streets of the town became a hive of activity with stalls, demonstrations of traditional handcrafts, workshops and participants in full Medieval dress providing a unique experience.

Gastronomy also plays a big role in the event with stalls offering a wide range of traditional dishes, while a full programme of activities including games, music, dance, parades and historical reenactments kept everyone entertained. Capdepera medieval market is one of the most emblematic festivities in Mallorca and a major event on the island’s yearly events calendar.

Mallorca Natural project

MORE than 1,000 primary schoolchildren have taken part in an environmental education project in Son Serra de Marina.

This was the 16th edition of the programme ‘Mallorca Natural’ organised jointly by the Group of Friends in Defence of the Environment (Gadma) and private company Cemex, which has so far taught more than 27,000 young students from 59 schools in 37 towns about the local flora and fauna at different sites throughout the island and the importance of respecting and caring for the environment.

STORIES IN THIS WEEK’S

Solar hospital

MANACOR hospital car park is now covered with solar panels.

The more than 5,430 square metres of panels will enable the hospital to run almost entirely on renewable energy and save more than €146,000 on electricity bills, as well as preventing the emission of over 790,600 kilos of CO2 a year. The technology features double­faced panels that absorb light reflected off the ground as well as from the sun.

It is the second hospital in the Balearics to cover its car park with solar panels after Mateu Orfila in Mahon (Menorca) and also incorporates five double charge points for electric vehicles. The project included in the regional government’s Climate Change and Energy Transition Law, states all car parks of more than 1,000 square metres must be covered with solar panels by the year 2025.

Participants also took part in a series of workshops about biodiversity led by experts to learn about the main environmental challenges we face and how to build a better future together.

Bernat Fiol, president of Gadma, pointed out that “education is the key tool for promoting a change in social habits. That’s why, for the schoolchildren to learn the value of the ecosystems that surround them and why they must be safeguarded is a necessary step towards protecting the environment.”

For further information visit Gadma on Facebook.

THE Balearic Islands Government could enforce access limitations this summer at Es Trenc­Salobrar de Campos nature park.

The park is located in the southeast part of Mallorca and is officially protected due to its highly valuable ecological and scenic characteristics.

Under the new Natural Resources Management Plan approved by the regional government on May 8, the Govern has the authority to establish ‘specific access limitations’ to the park ‘for reasons of conservation or degradation of habitats or species’ or ‘to regulate public use and mobility’ in places deemed necessary by the park management.

In addition, camping, caravanning or organising parties, concerts or any other event is totally forbidden within the protected area. Access to the islets and the exclusion zones will be prohibited except for scientific or site management reasons and mobility can only be done along public use routes on existing paths and roads. A series of studies will be performed to obtain valuable information regarding the main access points to the park, the most frequented paths and how many people can be concentrated in the protected area in a certain period of time, among others.

THE new storm tank inaugurated in Palma last November has so far prevented more than 200 tonnes of pollutant substances from being dumped in the sea.

According to municipal water and sewage company Emaya, the installations have also prevented the dumping of 425,000 cubic metres of wastewater mixed with rainwater from ending up in the bay ­ the equivalent of 122 Olympic ­ sized swimming pools.

Emaya reports that there has been no discharge into the sea during any of the 17 episodes of heavy rain registered in Palma between November 28 ­