Meila

Recovering wild apple trees in Liébana

The meilares have been very common wild apple trees in the mountains of Liébana, but during the last thirty years they have practically disappeared. Years ago the meilas were harvested, which were highly valued for the production of cider, mainly in Asturias, a neighboring community, as they provided bitter nuances that were appreciated in apple fermented products. With the passing of time, the harvesting and care of the tree was abandoned because of the low yield and little by little they have been disappearing. This activity proposes the recovery of the meilar in the bush and thus contribute to the conservation of biodiversity. The meila is the wild apple of Liébana, is small in size and although it may have other nuances, mainly its flavor is bitter. The meilares are trees that can reach a large size, which grow in forests and can share space with other trees and shrubs in the environment. It contributes to the feeding of wildlife, such as brown bears, deer, deer, wild boars, rodents, etc. and many birds; all of them, in turn, can collaborate for the growth of new meylars by moving the seeds from one place to another. This can start a chain that recovers the meadows in the mountains, contributing to the diversification of flora and fauna. The planting of fruit trees is carried out during the spring, but prior to planting we must carry out several tasks: location of the meilar and cleaning of the area, planting of the meila seeds in seedbed, transplanting from seedbed to pot, planting of the meilar, protection of the tree, care: fertilizing, watering if necessary and pruning, periodic visit and data collection, harvesting. We will explain this and much more during the activity, which is focused on the observation of the plant species typical of the area and demarcation and tillage for the planting of a meilar and its subsequent care. We will start with the planting of meylars in a farm adjacent to our farm, we will identify each tree with a code and periodically send the information with photographs and other data to all those who have contributed to the experience if they wish.