Pupils of Formentera's summer school programme take part in activities at a vegetable garden for kids created by the Formentera Council and dubbed l'Hort Infantil. The administration's Office of Youth Services and Office of Agriculture are organising visits of the garden, which is located next to Sant Francesc's Sa Tanca Vella monument, for children attending summer school in Sant Francesc and Sant Ferran.
Young ones at the Sant Francesc summer school took it in two turns when they visited the garden and participated in outdoor farming activities. The visits lasted approximately 45 minutes. Next Monday August 22 children of the Sant Ferran de Ses Roques programme will be split into three groups that each take part in 45-minute sessions.
The vegetable patch for kids was created last winter for introductory-level children's farming courses put on by the Formentera Council. Given positive response to the courses so far it is expected they will continue through the coming school year.
Earlier today, Jaume Ferrer, the president of the Formentera Council (CiF), welcomed a courtesy visit from Lieutenant Colonel Mario Lamura of the Carabinieri, whose duties include work at the Italian state police force's Madrid office. Lamura was joined by Warrant Officer Davide Porcelluzzi, Sergeant Marco Rosetti and Chief Loris Lunato. Acting as mediators for the Carabinieri commanders were Major Antonio Fresno of the Eivissa-Formentera Guardia Civil and Alejandro Perdigón, the warrant officer for the Spanish state police on Formentera. The visit was an opportunity to evaluate current joint operations by the two police forces on the island.
Visiting s'Espalmador island this morning, where workers were still working to put out a blaze that began last night, CiF president Jaume Ferrer thanked Council firefighters, Formentera and Eivissa crews of the Balearic Island's ecology bureau (Ibanat), firefighters called in from Mallorca, staff of the nearby marine reserve, coast guard rescue crews, the Guardia Civil, Formentera's civil protection crews and its local police force for their work controlling the wildfire. Recognising myriad efforts (“both with logistics and helping people reach the flames”), Ferrer expressed gratitude to crews that helped watercraft anchor, Formentera-based inspection workers and “residents like Sergi Gómez who pitched in too”.
The Formentera Council (CiF), by way of the administration's Office of Social Welfare, is taking part in a photography contest on nursing mothers in the Pitiüsa islands. The competition, organised jointly by the health department of Eivissa and Formentera and a Balearic Islands-based association that works to promote breastfeeding, will also receive 500 euros from the Formentera Council, for prizes in the open category.
The Formentera Council's top environmental officer, Daisee Aguilera, met today with Caterina Amengual, director general of the Govern Balear's bureau of natural spaces and biodiversity, at the head office of the Formentera government. The chair of the CiF's Office of Environment thanked Amengual for a visit that came in the heart of summer and was aimed at driving home that “what the Council is asking for with regard to environmental protections is totally justified”. Aguilera nuanced her proclamation with an appeal for “immediate action,” something she said would be necessary for measures to be effective. The CiF councillor said officials in Palma agree with the Formentera Council's diagnosis of current environmental issues — a break from the previous Govern's stance — and asserted: “Now is the time to pursue ambitious projects.”