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We promote green cities that live in conjunction with nature. We are committed to increasing the ecosystemic benefits that woodland vegetation can offer. At Urbidermis and Belloch Forestal we promote the alliance between quality urban elements and green spaces, that is, providing the city with a quality skin that encourages a fruitful coexistence. Because in the city too, as Paul Valery said, the deepest thing is the skin.
Our purpose: the city
Belloch Forestal is a nursery specialised in urban forestry, located in Parc de Belloch in the municipality of La Roca. This 200-hectare estate, 30 km north of Barcelona, occupies an area known as the Catalan Pistoia, because it shares the Tuscan region’s acclaimed excellence for growing trees.
We offer a selection of optimum tree cultivars for the challenging urban environment. A limited selection of species, backed up by reliable data. We consider their adaptability, their water and pruning requirements, their capacity to absorb negative pollutants and mitigate risks. At the site of our nursery in Belloch, covering 50 hectares and growing, we are committed to responsible and ongoing innovation. Better species, better nursery production, better growth for delivery and higher establishment success rates.
We publish a report in collaboration with biologists from Estudi Ramon Folch to offer scientific information on the best tree species for cities with Mediterranean climates, with details of all species included in our catalogue. We call it the Belloch Canon. We are convinced of the need for more research to improve what we plant along our streets and avenues and to enjoy species better suited to our parks.
The values on which we base our production are:
How do we grow?
We value quality over quantity. We avoid deformities in our trees, both above and below ground, and ensure a very high rate of survival after transplanting. We work on growing methods that are respectful of the environment and enhance biodiversity, minimising our negative impact and strengthening the positive one. We support our communities.
Container-grown, focused on the roots
Conventional closed-container growing systems cause root deformities and circling, thereby compromising the future planting, development and stability of the tree. We only work with anti-circling growing systems.
These systems are based on open containers that oxygenate the substrate and stimulate the appearance of new roots in a radial and uniform arrangement. Instead of weak trees with a resource-hogging circling central root, we deliver trees with a spherical root structure that ensures they will establish quickly, the roots spreading out well after transplanting.
In our nursery we use containers made with recycled, recyclable and reusable plastic, which we use and reuse to grow one tree after another. This method contrasts with the traditional closed plant pots, which go into the market after a single use, to then be destroyed at their final destination.
We place particular attention on the choice of our substrate. We are aware of the environmental impact of obtaining substrate and try to find alternatives to peat. Since 2018, and alongside the IRTA, we have been methodically testing the alternative use of new materials for creating our own 0-km substrate, such as extruded wood, biochar or plant-based compost.
43 tonnes of plastic waste avoided thanks to the delivery of trees with root balls and the reuse of open containers (2021-2023)
Field-grown, respectful with biodiversity
We follow principles of regenerative agriculture to improve the life and function of the soil. We use sustainable agriculture, livestock farming and forestry techniques. We plant perennial green roofs, apply organic matter and employ non-intensive rotational grazing to achieve better soil fertility, avoid its degradation and erosion, guarantee water retention, increase its capacity to retain CO2 and preserve biodiversity.
We save 4.7 tonnes of CO2/year, which would be emitted with conventional farming methods.
We increase the concentration of organic matter in the upper soil layers by 3%-5%.
We improve water retention (organic matter retains almost 20 times its weight in water).
We generate 2 to 7.5 times the number of organisms living in the soil.
We prevent soil loss from erosion (which is 30 tn ha/year in Spain).
Biological pest control
In general terms, the transformation of natural ecosystems into fields for crop growing causes a change in the populational dynamics for many animal species, generating imbalances that favour the appearance of pests. We promote mechanisms for biological pest control, designed so our agrosystem can self-regulate through the right additional fauna, helping us to reduce the use of pesticides to zero.
In 2023, average reduction of – 20% in the application of pesticides and fungicides as compared with 2021.
Efficient water management
In a context of climate instability, with increasingly prolonged and widespread episodes of drought, and living in a region with a Mediterranean climate, we invest in increasing the efficiency of how we manage our water consumption. Each year we improve our collection, storage and irrigation systems.
We have an 18,000 m2 capacity for rainwater collection for irrigation purposes.
In 2023, – 83% of water consumption for trees compared with 2021.
Towards sustainable mobility
We invest in non-polluting mobility and hope to one day have a 100% electric fleet. We invest in auxiliary machinery that helps us to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels.
30% of our fleet is electric
We support our communities
Donations
In 2021, we began a tree donation programme to promote the revegetation of places of community interest. We offer trees to municipalities and civil institutions, free of charge, which, while perhaps not adhering to the changing fashions of the market, do provide all their ecosystemic benefits. The donations programme is aimed especially at revegetating the playgrounds of local schools, thereby offering the children a fresher play space in the summer.
Our team
All our staff members have a permanent work contract and enjoy merit-based promotion and equitable social benefits regarding food and health. We are against all forms of discrimination based on gender, race or religion. We promote friendly and committed relationships. We are convinced of the enormous value of the work we do together in the nursery and which we openly offer to society.
We’ve already donated over 100 trees
