HISTORY

This natural area is located about 500 meters south of the village, in a place where there used to be a tile factory, which is where its name comes from. Clay was extracted here for the production of tiles and bricks from the 1920s to the 1980s, gradually lowering the terrain over an area of about 9 hectares. The lowered area would flood with water from an aquifer. When the tile factory was still in operation, this water was pumped out and discharged into a ditch. Later, the land was filled with rubble and waste. In 1994, a significant effort was made to clean and restore the area, led by the Department of Environment of the Generalitat of Catalonia, at the initiative of a local conservationist group.

NATURAL INTEREST

Currently, the wetland is an area of natural interest, home to a remarkable diversity of organisms. Although the water level varies significantly depending on rainfall, it almost never dries up completely. This allows for the development of vegetation and fauna typical of wet environments. Birds are one of the main attractions of the site. During migration periods, it is common to see birds taking advantage of the wetland’s strategic location to stop, rest, and regain strength to continue their journey. The wetland also plays an important role in the preservation of various species of amphibians and reptiles, which are threatened in other places due to various circumstances (pollution, invasive species, etc.).

FACILITIES

The area, which is municipally owned, has been established as a reference point of natural and educational interest. Over different phases, it has been equipped with facilities for wildlife observation, informational panels, and a field classroom set up in an old transformer building. Since May 2011, there has been a birdwatching literary trail with poems by Celdoni Fonoll, some of which were created specifically for the Tejería Wetland. Since autumn 2021, the Wetland has a new graphic image, accompanied by the renovation of all the signs and informational panels on the premises.

Additionally, by agreement of the Municipal Council, the observation hut has been named after Jordi Falip, in memory of one of the main promoters of the Wetland’s restoration.