Although the occasional rains of summer may have been a brief but welcome break to the continual hot and dry spells of previous years, the rain has brought an unpleasant legacy along with it. The extra rain through August has added water to the ground, feeding plants and animals, it has added to the dwindling supplies in the reservoirs, and …

On Saturday, 22 June, the first Astronomical Encounter Experience will be held at the Lagunas de La Mata and Torrevieja. A full day of activities has been organised, coinciding with the Summer Solstice, with the whole family welcome to take part. Starting at 10:00 in the morning, workshops will be held at the visitor´s centre at the park, and then …

Thanks to a collaboration with the AKI diy shops, there will be two days dedicated to environmental volunteering at the La Mata natural park, with the hope of preserving one of the most emblematic routes of the Park, “La Ruta del Vino”, or Wine Route. The route has become particularly special to those who have experienced it as it showcases …

Torrevieja’s councillor for culture, Domingo Perez, has presented the schedule for the autumn cultural calendar, offering a range of events which includes concerts, exhibitions and cultural and leisure events for the months of October , November and December. More events will be added to the calendar as the season progresses, but the schedule already includes such anticipated concerts like the …

Towards the end of this month, Torrevieja will be a haven for bird spotters, as the Birding Festival Humedales del Sur de Alicante returns to the Parque Natural de la Mata. The dates for your diary are the 26, 27 and 28 October, for an event dedicated to the world of birds and ornithological tourism organised by Turisme Comunitat Valenciana, …

There is hardly a more picturesque place, nor a more romantic setting, than watching the sun go down as the birdsong in the Natural Park of La Mata is echoed by classical music on Friday, 28 September, as the latest edition of “Música en el Parque” takes place. It´s the fourth time the musicians have gathered to perform their scores, …

The councillor for tourism, Fanny Serrano, showed off a new booklet at a press conference this week, a guide that offers information about the various guided routes that can be enjoyed throughout the winter season. The guided routes have been more popular than ever this summer, resulting in an extension to their contract, and now, throughout the winter, Torrevieja is …

The councillor for tourism, Fanny Serrano, detailed various aspects relating to the data collection in a press conference, which, amongst other things, show how the tourist information offices have received a total of 11,265 visitors, and water consumption indicates a population equivalent to almost half a million people during the summer months. Serrano said that the number of inquiries that …

August is one of the best months to enjoy the Natural Park of La Mata-Torrevieja, and get to know nature with family or friends. That’s why the park offers a simple 3 kilometre walking route for the whole family to enjoy, in which you can experience a unique environment and, as a final touch, enjoy one of the images difficult …

The town hall of Los Montesinos has organised a walking route around the Natural Park of La Mata Salt Lakes, with a spot of birdwatching and a free picnic thrown in too! The walk covers a distance of 4km and is apt for anyone over the age of 6 years old. It has been classed …

Like a futuristic battleground, a fleet of armed and un-crewed aircraft, or “drones” as they are more commonly know, are set to take to the skies in an attempt to fight back against a form of terrorism that has been plaguing many. However...

The natural Wildlife Park of the Lagunas de La Mata-Torrevieja has so far welcomed over 1,000 flamingos this year breaking its own record for the nesting birds.

The figure was confirmed by the Department of the Environment, which said that the previous highest figure was recorded in 2008 when 750 of the birds spent the season nesting, a number that dropped considerably in the following years.

The same sources explained that "the excellent water conditions and the increased presence of the brine shrimp, a species of crustacean that flamingos are especially fond of, in the lagoon of La Mata have led to this dramatic increase in the population, and if conditions don't change too much in the lagoon, the flamingos could stay all year.

Another fact that confirms the increasing numbers in the park comes from the breeding census conducted by DoE staff last June.

This study has found "a dramatic increase" in the breeding population of Gaviota picofina (Larus genei). Although there was no census conducted last year the 2014 figure shows that 620 chicks have been produce.

The estimated population of this bird in Spain is around 1,000 pairs, so the Natural Park of La Mata-Torrevieja, has 60 percent of the population, "and continues to be a valuable haven for the conservation of this species," according the Department.

One of the birds said to be especially appreciated by ornithologists is the Kentish Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus), a small wader in the plover bird family, where 74 nesting pairs have been recorded. In many parts of the world, it had become difficult for this species to breed on beaches because of disturbance from the activities of humans or their animals so to see their numbers increasing locally is said to be of particular significance.