Soto del Real Opens Recovered Botanical Garden with Family Activities

The natural and educational space, revitalized by young volunteers and local associations, will feature an 'explorers' safari' during its inauguration.

Generic image of a botanical garden with educational signage and families enjoying outdoor activities.
AI

Generic image of a botanical garden with educational signage and families enjoying outdoor activities.

The Soto del Real City Council will open the botanical garden, formerly the Fernando González Bernáldez Environmental Research Center, to the public next Sunday, November 8th, at 12:00 PM, following a recovery and refurbishment project led by young volunteers and local associations.

The new green space, intended to be a place for meeting, learning, and connecting with nature, has been revitalized through the collaboration of students from IES Sierra de Guadarrama, participants of this summer's volunteer camp, the Cultural Association Chozas de la Sierra, and Soto por la regeneración. These groups have been involved in cleaning, maintenance, painting, irrigation system repair, amphibian pond revitalization, creation of new play areas, and the identification and installation of interpretive signage for plant species.
The botanical garden is designed as a space open to families, schools, and residents of all ages, not only for strolling but also as an educational resource. During the opening day, a family activity called 'explorers' safari' will take place, a fun and educational initiative for children to discover the surroundings with their families.
The garden's recovery also provided an opportunity to incorporate ideas from the town's children and youth through various municipal childhood and youth projects. The aim is for the space to reflect their proposals and become a place for enjoyment and respect for biodiversity.
Following its opening, the botanical garden will be accessible to the public from Monday to Sunday, between 7:00 AM and 10:00 PM.
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"The recovery of the botanical garden is an example of how the participation of our young people can contribute to improving the municipality and caring for our natural environment. We want this space to be much more than a green area: a place to enjoy nature, learn to recognize the species around us, and foster respect for biodiversity from a young age. It is also satisfying to see how the work and ideas of so many young people are transformed into a space open to all residents."

Nacho García · Councillor for Youth, Childhood, and Environmental Sustainability
With this initiative, Soto del Real adds a new green space for its citizens, a result of local collaboration and participation.
Based on information from the official source: Ayuntamiento de Soto del Real (04/11/2026)