La Orotava once again has wise men and women who will make known the charms and wonders that the Hijuela del Botánico treasures, a garden declared in 2008 an Asset of Cultural Interest with the category of Historical Garden, attached to the Town Hall and dependent on the Botanical Garden of Puerto de la Cross.
The Department of Environment and Climate Change directed by Luis Perera, recovers an interesting project that was launched at the beginning of 2020, but had to stop due to the pandemic. The initiative consists of a group of volunteers, over 55 years of age, under the name of wise men and women, acting as guides through this magical garden.
The mayor, Francisco Linares, values the recovery of this interesting and enriching initiative, as well as the social and active commitment acquired by this group of volunteers from the villeros, “true ambassadors, to transmit their experience and knowledge to others.” Likewise, he appreciates that “they dedicate part of their free time to promote this unique garden in an attractive and affectionate way, a benchmark in the Canary Islands”
Luis Perera details that the volunteers receive specific training for this purpose, thus acquiring the necessary tools to transmit their knowledge and effectively carry out the informative and interpretive tasks of the natural, cultural, scientific and ethnographic heritage that this emblematic place possesses.
Guided tours are free and last approximately 45 minutes. They can be requested through the Red Cross email puertoambiente@cruzroja.es. The project, which starts this month of March and will take place every second and fourth Thursday of each month, has the support of the Canarian Institute for Agrarian Research (ICIA) of the Government of the Canary Islands; the area of Sustainable Development and the Fight against Climate Change of the Cabildo de Tenerife, and the Red Cross. In addition, throughout this year, workshops and other actions will be developed that value this authentic open classroom in order to bring it closer to neighbors and visitors.
The mayor points out that the Volunteering Law of the Government of the Canary Islands is complied with and that they have the permits of the Direction of the Acclimatization Garden of La Orotava and the Professional Association of Tourist Guides of Tenerife.
