Madeira replaces invasive plants in social housing gardens with native species

The IHM public housing company in Madeira has launched "Jardins+Nossos", a project to replant green spaces in social housing neighbourhoods with endemic species, replacing plants that are largely invasive or exotic. The idea came from Júnio Jardim, a 21-year-old biology student who noticed the problem at Bairro da Nazaré in Funchal, and was developed with local associations, the IHM and the Institute of Forests and Nature Conservation, which will supply the native plants. A pilot scheme will begin in a cleared-up garden at Bairro da Nazaré, with planting sessions scheduled for 15 and 22 October, before possible expansion to other neighbourhoods such as Romeiras and Nogueira.