Photography: RR
The Metrosidero, or fire tree, found in Jardim do Cerco, in Mafra, is one of the 10 national trees in the competition for the “Portuguese Tree of the Year 2023”.
This species, which is already 200 years old, is 22 meters tall and has a trunk circumference of 6.26 meters, presenting “a leafy, balanced crown and a magnificent aerial root system”.
European Tree of the Year focuses on the history and relationships with people
According to historical descriptions, it was ordered to be planted by King Fernando II, from his maritime expeditions. Recently, it served as the setting for numerous television series, such as Morangos com Açúcar, Jardins Proibidos or Madre Paula, as read in the presentation of this tree.
The specimen elected “Portuguese Tree of the Year 2023” will represent Portugal in the European Tree of the Year competition, which was launched back in 2011 and in which the winners of different national competitions will participate – 22 countries are involved in total.
This competition aims to highlight the importance of ancient trees in the cultural and natural heritage, which deserves our full attention and protection. Unlike other competitions, the European Tree of the Year does not focus only on the beauty, size or age of the tree, but on its history and relationships with people.
União da Floresta Mediterrânica (UNAC) (Mediterranean Forest Union) is the organizer of the national competition, which enables the winning Portuguese tree to compete for the vote for the European Tree of the Year – this is a Union of Organizations of Forestry Producers that represents the interests of forestry producers of the Portuguese Mediterranean area with Portuguese and European institutions.
You can check the page of this competition, where all the other trees in competition are represented, and participate in the voting.
Esta publicação também está disponível em | This article is also available in: Portuguese (Portugal)
