Help preserve

Always use public bins and containers to throw away waste. If this rubbish is thrown away in parks, gardens, tree-lined or public roads, it represents a focus of microbiological contamination that can cause diseases and attract insects such as flies and mosquitoes that can be carriers of diseases. As well as this, it causes a negative visual impact and causes pollution in ponds and the sea, particularly when waste is swept away by the wind.

Did you know that removing a single piece of chewing gum from the floor costs around 4 to 6 times its price to buy? Remember that municipal spending for the cleaning of parks and gardens is paid by all citizens.

Waste such as sunflower seed husks or shells of other nuts, cigarette butts, wrappers, cans of soft drinks, etc., scattered in public spaces is inappropriate behaviour, and money has to be spent in order to collect them.

This uncitizen-like behaviour is observed by children, who instinctively copy it; they simply imitate those who theoretically have to educate them. Be a model citizen.

A waste problem, which deserves special attention, is that of cigarette butts. The filters are mostly manufactured from cellulose acetate, a material derived from petroleum that is not biodegradable and can take up to ten years to decompose. It retains toxic and cancerous products, such as lead, cadmium, mercury, phenol, ammonia, tar, nicotine, etc. The polluting effect can last for decades in the environment and, with the passage of time and rain, will be transferred to the soil and water, contaminating them and affecting the surrounding plants.

Earthworms and other animals essential for the soil are extremely sensitive to cadmium poisoning. They can die at very low concentrations and this has consequences on the structure of the soil. In addition, the butts that are dragged along by the rain, arrive at the sanitation system, where they come into contact with water and release chemical substances. Due to their small size, they pass through the filters of treatment plants, they reach rivers and oceans, where birds, fish (clams, oysters, prawns, sea urchins amongst others), and other animals can ingest them and consequently die because they cannot digest them or accumulate these toxic substances, therefore they enter into the food chain and ultimately, our food.

In addition, they generate a negative visual impact, and they are one of the most abundant types of waste, and they are present in practically all locations where the human being exists.

Cigarette butts should not be thrown on the ground, since the cities’ bins are not only to dispose of bags and paper rubbish, but, in fact, most of them have an ashtray where people can put out the cigarette and throw the cigarette butts in the bin. If there is no ashtray, you can still put the cigarette out, and then throw it away in the bin just as easily. In any case, if there is no available bin, you can always store them inside a can or any other container that can later be thrown away in a bin.

Plants that live in green spaces

Trees and other plants that live in the green spaces are delicate organisms that have become accustomed to living in our city. They need adequate conditions and maintenance to stay healthy and grow to their best potential.

The staff that are dedicated to maintaining them know the needs of each plant and they take great care to provide them with what they need, but you can also help. We ask you not to remove any plants, branches, flowers or fruits: they are for everyone, let others enjoy them too.

In addition to its ornamental function, the grass helps to maintain soil moisture for the rest of the plants and helps to prevent soil erosion from the rain. Do not step on it, do not use it to play on or lay down on it, as you will damage it Please also prevent your pet from doing so. Only in the parks where it is expressly authorised you may do so.

Do not damage the trees, for example by engraving, painting, marking their bark, nailing objects, attaching mopeds, bicycles or posters to them. Do not climb them and do not pour any product that is not water on them, as it can be toxic to them.

Here, special emphasis must be placed on a problem that many people are unaware of: the effect of urination and defecation of our dogs.

During their walk, dogs urinate on a pole, on a street lamp, on a tree, on a facade, on a wheel, on any corner, but also on trees, shrubs or grass. That is their way of communicating, of telling their peers that this is their territory, but this will cause a “call effect” for other dogs that will mark their territory in the same spots. The problem is that the urine has a high concentration of nitrogen and salts that causes the plant to “burn” in a similar way to the effect of excessive fertilisation.

The brown patches on the grass are evidence that one or more dogs have a favourite toilet place. The leaves of a low-rise plant or shrubs with golden borders or a tree that is “drying”, could be victims of the continued urination of dogs. In addition, the effect of urination on street furniture, such as banks, signs, bollards, bins, traffic lights, among others, produces their oxidation.

So, if you have a dog, how can you help avoid this problem? Prevent your dog from urinating at the bottom of trees, in flowerbeds, on the grass, on street furniture, and if this not possible, bring a bottle of water with you and water the area where your dog has urinated straight afterwards.

Make sure that the animal urinates on the curb of the sidewalk and preferably near the rain gutters, as it is the part of the road that gets cleaned the most. To do this, educate your dog properly and take them immediately to a place where he can urinate without causing harm. Bit by bit, your dog will get used to the fact that he cannot urinate on the lawn, bottoms of trees, flowerbeds or street furniture.

Another aspect that is a problem for the conservation of green areas is the faeces of your dog. One of the most common myths is that the waste of the dog serves as fertiliser for gardens or plants. In reality, these are biodegradable, but dogs can also discard bacteria or parasites that can infect people and other animals, causing health problems.

Collecting faeces is not only necessary to keep cities clean but also to avoid health problems as they may contain parasites, such as Toxocara canis, which can cause a very serious infection called Toxocarosis, Giardia Iamlia and pathogenic bacteria such as E. coli or Campylobacter.

In addition, faeces can end up contaminating the water of ponds, lakes and even drinking water when being flushed by the rain. When dry, it is pulverised and its particles travel in the environment and can end up in the foods that are consumed in public eateries or we can even breathe them.

Running into dog faeces on the street is also unpleasant, not only because of the smell, but because of the risk of stepping on them. Not picking up dog faeces and not disposing of them in the bin is a lack of respect towards other citizens.

Animals that live in green spaces

Respect the animals that inhabit the green spaces; it is also their home. Hunting or chasing any type of animal, as well as frightening or disturbing pigeons, birds or any other species of bird or animal is not allowed. Breaking cages and fences or invading the enclosures in which the animals can be found could cause considerable damage to the animals that live in our green spaces alongside us humans in our city.

Remember to always keep your dog on a lead, to avoid bothering other animals, people or invading plant areas.

Another big problem that affects our green areas is the increasing presence of introduced exotic bird species, many of them competing with the native bird species of our parks that can decimate their populations, displace them and even lead to their extinction.

Species of birds such as parrots and the common waxbill, threaten the native species of our urban ecosystem, such as the swift, the swallow, the sparrow, the house martin, the goldfinch, since, once they adapt to living in the city, they have the ability to reproduce rapidly reproducing, increasing their population and entering in competition with the native bird population with regard to food, refuge and places of nesting. They will even eat other birds´eggs. Thus, it is very difficult and very expensive for the City Council to control their populations.

Therefore, you can collaborate in several ways:

– Do not feed pigeons, cats, ducks or seagulls. Even if you only mean to feed these animals, other exotic and non-native animals, including rodents like rats, will compete for this food and their population could increase in an uncontrolled manner, resulting in risks to the health of people, deterioration of buildings, trees, street furniture etc.

– Avoid the release and abandonment of your pets on the street when you get bored of them (parrots, canaries, snakes, dogs, cats, rodents, rabbits, …). Your veterinarian will advise you about this.

Protection of sculptural and monumental elements and urban furniture

Benches, bins, street lamps, information panels, fountains and sculptural and monumental elements are of great value, and complement the beauty and endowment of the green areas, so that our visits and walks are even more pleasant.

Use them properly and help their conservation and good condition. Do not make inscriptions, paint, put stickers on them or make them dirty. Ensure that children do not put sand, water, mud or any other element on the benches that could dirty them or stain clothes of people who sit down on them, and teach them to take care of them.

Do not use enclosures, public lighting supports, urban furniture or any existing element, as well as trees in parks and gardens to stick posters: as well as it not being the right thing to do, it can damage them. Do not put up advertising within these spaces, hopefully they end up in the bins, but some will end up filling the park with paper rubbish. You would not do it in your house, right? Well, treat the gardens as if they were your own.

The green areas also have another very important function: to create enclosed spaces of relaxation and tranquillity that provides contact with nature. Also, do not forget that they provide the habitat for birds and other animals who do not like noise. Therefore, avoid disturbing other users and the wildlife of the park with shouts, loud speakers, street drinking, etc. And teach the children to do the same.

Certain ball games can cause annoyance or accidents to people, damage and deterioration to plants, trees, benches among artistic and decorative urban furniture, parks, gardens, promenades and public squares. In addition, they can prevent or hinder the passage of people and disturb public tranquillity. Play them only in places where it is explicitly allowed to do so.

Many parks in our city have equipment for childplay and healthy elements to do physical exercise, for both adults and young people. Use them following the instructions of use and age appropriateness for each element and avoid deterioration due to misuse, graffiti, etc.

Dogs must be properly leashed, except in areas that are enclosed. They must walk in the designated walking areas, without going on the grass and they must avoid being a nuisance to people, and preventing them from entering a children´s playground.

Trees, plants and animals that live in our city also breathe and suffer from air pollution. Avoid using your car to make small trips (less than 2 km), whenever possible. It´ll be worth it for your health as well as for the air quality of the city. You can always choose to walk, use the bicycle or public transport.

If you consider yourself a conscientious and respectful person with the parks, gardens and green areas of Cadiz, help other people who live in your area to know the importance of green areas and how to conserve them.