The Huerta Urbana de Udaberri is a project that has been launched in the San Juan district of Pamplona. The green spaces already exist in the area, but this project, launched by the association of neighbors San Juan Xar, wants the citizenship to have an active role in this space and not a mere walker: “We want every neighbor to feel that this place is theirs, that people are empowered and that it is part of the garden,” explains Ibai Sueskun. The neighborhood orchard project can also be a way to approach ecology.

Vitality of the neighbourhood

The San Juan Xar association works in the dynamization of the San Juan neighborhood: it is organizing cultural activities, promoting small local trade or promoting life in the neighborhood. The orchard project is one more step towards bringing Donibane to life. “We have to offer tools to the neighborhood for vitality, and to do so, we thought putting the orchard in the neighborhood was a good idea.” One of the main objectives is to create a meeting point for neighbors, to unite people from different generations.

In addition to the orchard tables, in the auzolanes they have carried out so far, the compost, a barranco, tables, banks and a petanca game have been placed. And in the vegetable garden they have already made the first plantations: beans, peas, onions, garlic… the vegetable festival has started! Project members invite neighborhood agents to use the new space for their initiatives: “That the Gazte Asanblada wants to give a course there, or that the educational community proposes to come here, make a guided tour and learn to plant... The garden will be a tool for everyone.”

Auzolan as a base

The first step to start the project was to make a presentation in the neighborhood, and in the face of this answer they decided to go ahead: “About 30-40 people came, we took their contacts and created a motor team.” This group manages the relations and communication channels with the City Hall, as well as the call of auzolanes for the preparation of the vegetable gardens area. Sueskune says that the response of the people is being very good and that the project has created interest and joy in the neighborhood.

At the end of January, the last boom will be made to prepare the final preparations that are missing. Subsequently, a number of working groups will be set up to organise the orchard and the azades will be launched. “The people are excited and happy, especially because they see that there was a plaza without any use, and now that plaza has been dressed, given color and the space will contribute to the neighborhood.”