Use of picnic and BBQ points in the Sierra Espuña 2018 info

These can only be used during periods of low fire risk

The Sierra Espuña natural park covers an area of 17,804 hectares, of which 25,000 is in a central forested zone, spreading across the municipalities of Aledo, Alhama de Murcia, Totana, Pliego and Mula,  and was replanted in the latter part of the 20th century, work beginning in 1889. The park was designated as a regional park in 1992 and is home to a wide range of flora and fauna, some of which is protected, hence its ZEPA status as a designated protection area of birdlife and its LIC status.

Lighting fires within the regional park is strictly forbidden other than in specific, designated recreation areas. Most of the cooking points are currently being de-commissioned, although cooking is still permitted in the recreational areas of El Grifo and El Ángel alongside the Sanctuary of La Santa during low risk periods of the year.

The period during which the designated BBQ cooking points can be used varies from year to year, and they are generally closed off some time after Easter, re-opening in the autumn once the first rains have fallen.

In 2017 the BBQ points of El Ángel and El Grifo re-opened on the 1st October 2017 for autumn and winter use. The other BBQ points in the Sierra Espuña remained closed throughout the year.

During summer 2018 a complete ban was imposed on all BBQ points and the re/opening of the points near to the La Santa hotel will be reviewed in the autumn. It is highly probable that the re/opening will be delayed due to the high temperatures and incresed fire risk.

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