Olive tree planting and environmental workshop in Oliete, Spain with apadrinaunolivo.org 5 April 2025
Olive tree planting and environmental workshop in Oliete, Spain with apadrinaunolivo.org 5 April 2025
On 4-6 April 2025, our One More Tree Foundation, together with a group of committed volunteers from Poland and Spain, took part in a unique trip to the Spanish town of Oliete, with a population of just 300. The trip took place at the invitation of apadrinaunolivo.org, an organisation with which we have established a partnership. It was an extraordinary weekend full of excitement, environmental activities and inspiring encounters – all in support of an initiative to save abandoned olive trees.
Welcome to the heart of Aragon
Our adventure began on Friday evening. After a long journey from Poland and Barcelona, we arrived in charming Oliete, where we were greeted by Alberto – founder of the apadrinaunolivo.org project. We spent the evening having dinner together, during which we had the opportunity to taste local specialities and get to know each other better in a friendly, intimate atmosphere. Feasting together became the perfect prelude to the following days full of work and inspiration.
Planting olive trees – a green contribution to the future
Saturday started actively – from the very morning we set to work planting new olive trees. Each participant had the opportunity to plant their own tree, leaving a real and symbolic footprint in the olive landscape of Oliete. Together, we supported the work of apadrinaunolivo.org, an organisation that aims to bring abandoned olive groves back to life.
Planting trees turned out to be not only an environmental action, but also a moving experience – full of reflection and emotion. We saw with our own eyes the great importance of human involvement where nature has been left alone for years.
Walking among the olives and discovering nature
In the afternoon it was time to explore the area. We went for a walk through the olive groves, where many of the trees have been adopted by the people who support the apadrinaunolivo.org project. Once forgotten, today, thanks to volunteers and the local community, the trees are once again being cared for and regaining life.
The walk became an opportunity to admire the beauty of local nature – we visited a picturesque lake, explored caves, and strolled through the atmospheric narrow streets of Oliete’s old centre. This part of the day allowed us to feel the spirit of the place and understand how a close relationship with nature affects the quality of life in small communities.
Olive oil, education and integration
Another highlight of the day was a visit to a local olive oil mill, where we learned about the process of olive oil production – from harvesting to bottling. We also had the opportunity to taste the oil and talk about its properties and economic importance for the region.
In the evening we attended a workshop on sustainability, the role of local communities in protecting the environment and the importance of initiatives such as apadrinaunolivo.org. The meeting ended with integration with Alberto and the volunteers – full of laughter, conversation and sharing of experiences.
Sunday farewell to Oliete
On the last day, we took another walk through the centre of the town, soaking up its atmosphere and saying goodbye to a place that had managed to win our hearts. The weekend in Oliete was not only a time for us to work for nature, but also a beautiful lesson in collaboration, empathy and local involvement.
Why is this so important?
To conclude, it is worth recalling that the One More Tree Foundation has partnered with the organisation apadrinaunolivo.org, a unique social project that has been working for more than a decade to save neglected olive trees and restore life to rural areas in Spain. The initiative combines care for the environment with social engagement and support for the local economy, making a real, sustainable impact.
Anyone who wants to get involved with apadrinaunolivo.org can adopt one of the abandoned olive trees. By choosing a specific tree, giving it a name and following its development, the participant in this initiative becomes part of a wider process of restoring local ecosystems. There is also the opportunity to visit Oliete and participate in dedicated sponsor events. A symbolic but tangible thank you for your support is to receive olive oil produced from these very trees.
Adopting olive trees is not only a pro-environmental gesture – it is also a form of support for families at risk of exclusion, a way of strengthening the local economy through the development of tourism and agriculture, and a concrete action to protect biodiversity and reduce the carbon footprint.
Our partnership with apadrinaunolivo.org stems from a shared mission – both we and our Spanish partners believe that planting and protecting trees can make a real difference to the future of the planet and local communities. Every tree planted or saved is a step towards a more sustainable world.
In an era of climate change and mass depopulation of small towns and cities, initiatives such as apadrinaunolivo.org show that it is possible to act locally but with global impact. Together we can bring life back to places that have been forgotten – and do it with passion, responsibility and a smile.
Many thanks to apadrinaunolivo.org for inviting us to this unique initiative and for the opportunity to work together for the benefit of our planet.
