Mijas sows 33,000 'supersemillas' in Sierra. Los Arenales and Hipódromo covered

The Ayuntamiento de Mijas (town hall) says more than 33,000 "supersemillas" (super-seeds) have been scattered around the Los Arenales quarry and the Hipódromo area as part of efforts to restore the Sierra de Mijas. Mayor Ana Mata took part in the second phase of the project on 13 November 2026, alongside students and members of local associations.

Key facts

• Number: more than 33,000 seed balls, against an initial target of 27,000, according to the town hall.
• Where: around the Los Arenales quarry near Mijas Pueblo and in the Hipódromo area.
• Who: the project is driven by the local firm Exploramás with council backing.
• First phase: 20 and 21 October at Cortijo Don Elías, with nearly 700 participants.
• Distribution: 50 to 60 representatives of the participating groups scattered the seeds.

How the seed balls work

According to the town hall, the supersemillas are made from a mix of substrate, clay, natural fertiliser and meadow seeds. Once on the ground, rain breaks down the clay coating and the seeds germinate directly in the soil, with no planting or watering needed.

The council says the technique is based on the traditional Japanese method known as nendo dango. Euro Weekly News adds that the clay casing protects the seeds from birds, wind and sun until the rain arrives, and that a similar approach has already been used on the Costa del Sol dunes.

Who took part

The town hall says the first phase involved pupils from the Las Lagunas, Sierra de Mijas, Torre Almenara and Villa de Mijas secondary schools, as well as Kampus Formación. Members of the Asociación de Enfermos de Párkinson Fuenmijas and of Afesol also helped.

Mata was accompanied by Environment councillor Marco Cortés and Education councillor Juan José Torres.

The council says each seed ball symbolically represents one employee of General Electric, the company that engaged Exploramás for the social action. That explains why the final total went past the original 27,000 target.

Fire recovery and desertification

The town hall presents the project as part of its environmental policy to recover areas hit by fires and counter desertification. Euro Weekly News describes the Los Arenales and Hipódromo zones as still recovering from recent fires; the council's release speaks more generally of areas affected by fires.

Mata said in the council's statement: "La conservación de nuestra sierra es una responsabilidad colectiva" (the conservation of our sierra is a collective responsibility). She also said that when administrations, companies, young people and social groups work together, results go "mucho más allá de una actuación medioambiental" (far beyond a single environmental action).

Why it matters

For residents of Mijas, the project is a visible example of community-led restoration in the Sierra, with schools and associations directly involved. The seeds depend on rainfall to germinate, so any visible results will follow the rain.