Bombarral Municipal Forest

Category: Nature > Woodland

District: Leiria > Bombarral > Bombarral > Zona da Mata

Location

The Bombarral Municipal Forest is located in the heart of Bombarral village, in the urban area designated as "Zona da Mata" (Forest Zone). This central location gives it a special role in the urban landscape, functioning as a natural refuge accessible to all who visit the locality. Its presence in the village center is remarkable, offering a green contrast to the surrounding built environment.

A Rooted History

The Bombarral Municipal Forest has a long and rich history, dating back several centuries. In the past, this area served as a hunting ground, a reserved hunting territory, which even hosted the royal court on hunting expeditions. Over time, the hunting ground transformed into a private garden before assuming its current function as a Municipal Park. This designation was assigned in 1941, the year it was also recognized as an Area of Public Interest. This historical evolution allowed for its preservation as the main green space in the heart of the village, with the maintenance of some elements such as statues and tiles that evoke its past.

Exceptional Natural Heritage

With approximately four hectares, the Municipal Forest is one of the last strongholds of the vegetation that characterized the region centuries ago. It is often described as a "living museum" due to its ability to faithfully represent the original flora of the Mediterranean forests that once dominated this area. Its degree of preservation is remarkable, with parallels found in few other locations at the Iberian level, such as in Arrábida.

Among the prominent species, we find cork oak specimens over twenty meters high, truly unusual dimensions. The forest also hosts a vast diversity of typical Mediterranean plants, including common buckthorn, strawberry tree, kermes oak, mastic tree, butcher's broom, and bay laurel. The presence of rare orchids, such as Cephalanthera longifolia, Epipactis heleborine, and Limodorum trabutianum, underlines the ecological value of this space, revealing the maintenance of important environmental characteristics, despite its urban insertion and human intervention over time.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt