25 employees have participated with their families in training days in Avila focused on preserving natural environments.
25 workers, along with 38 family members and friends (including 21 children) got into an ecological caravan that took them from the large city of Madrid and elsewhere in Spain to the Ávila mountains in Castile and Leon. In Santa Maria del Cubillo, near the wind farm that EDPR has set up in Altos de Voltoya, they took part in environmental training days where they learned to become more aware of the natural environment through educational activities.
Silvia Sancet, the company's environmental specialist, explained the purpose of this initiative to us. She talked to us about how efficient it is "to show that besides setting up wind farms we also collaborate with the environment and help to recover the area in a positive way. We don't just come and set it up and then go". In addition she also introduced us to the team of volunteers who collaborate with EDPR. They are members of the "Fundación Oxígeno" (Oxygen Foundation), a non-profit organisation that increases environmental awareness through work camps, which are split into several tasks with professionals specialising in each area. They have been responsible for providing environmental education lessons through workshops. From the youngest to the oldest, EDPR workers and their families were split into groups to participate in all of them. With eyes and ears open and a great team spirit they did not want to miss any detail of the explanations.
Releasing a bird cured by the recovery centre after flying into a fence. From such a symbolic act an intense day began that was full of activities to conserve wildlife, which lasted 7 hours.
Among them, a bird banding workshop. Through the explanations of an ornithologist all have learned to distinguish the most common birds in the area: buzzards, small eagles, kestrels, etc. They have been weighed and measured with suitable gauges under the usual ritual used in scientific studies for ornithological research centres. Those present claimed that they found it very helpful and curious. "They talked to us about the types of species that migrate and those that don't. It has been very interesting," says Laura Ballester from EDPR's human resources department.
Building a pond from scratch to attract amphibians. This has been one of the most spectacular activities and where there was a great rapport between all participants. Everyone set to work with hoes and dug a big hole to create a pond beside a spring and thus help the recovery of the amphibians in the area (frogs and salamanders are some of the most common species). The final work was left as if it had been carried out by experts in the area. The expressions on their faces were proof of the satisfaction of a job well done.
Waste collection. Keeping nature clean is an unquestionable duty. Having picnics and not collecting the waste destroys the ecosystem therefore knowing how to collect it was among the activities. "To enjoy pretty nature we must always keep it clean" one of the volunteers told us.
And from cleaning to reforestation. The area chosen to be populated with trees was dry because of the frequent passage of cattle. To help preserve the local flora, participants learned to plant oaks in particular. The children really enjoyed this activity by imitating their parents. They were taught how to water with the right amount of water depending on the type of shrub and to recognise the names of species. Parents expressed how happy they were with these words "A nice activity to enjoy as a family in addition to educating my kids".
Integrating an urban building in a rural environment. In this task, art and nature were combined. A mural was painted on a water tank in order to minimise its visual impact and embellish it. The artwork was directed by an artist who is used to creating paintings on these types of spots. The villagers were the only viewers during its creation. They told us how grateful they were with the outcome of the new artistic print that would decorate the area. They also talked to us about how good these initiatives are for the village.
With these training days, EDPR demonstrates its commitment to its employees, the environment and its concern for the natural environment surrounding its wind farms.
EDPR - "Parte de Nós - Florestas" Training Day