La Hoz de la Vieja in the province of Teruel will host the 16th Fiesta del Chopo Cabecero on 14 November 2026. The programme includes the traditional Escamonda on selected trees, talks on the landscape and cultural value of pollarded trees, and a photography exhibition. The 2026 Amigo del Chopo Cabecero honorary award goes to the municipality of Pancrudo for its long-standing care work and educational initiatives relating to pollarded poplars.
The event is organised by local authorities and the Centro de Estudios del Jiloca and takes place in the comarca of Cuencas Mineras . Some of Europe’s largest stands of so-called chopos cabeceros are found in the province of Teruel, with many trees over 200 years old. Dendrochronological studies involving the Instituto Pirenaico de Ecología date individual specimens to around 200 to 220 years old. The studies identify locations including valleys along the Río Pancrudo and in the Alto Alfambra .
The trees’ distinctive form is the result of traditional pollarding: periodic, heavy pruning (Escamonda) creates large pollard heads, from which new shoots grow. Experts emphasise that this regular care is key to their long-term stability and vitality. If it is discontinued, the trees change in appearance, become more prone to breakage and lose the ecological niches they currently provide for numerous insect and bird species.
According to experts involved, the density of old pollarded poplars in southern Aragón is exceptional in Europe. Elsewhere, comparable tree forms are most commonly found among beech, ash and willow trees, but rarely among poplars. This has been noted, among others, by Chabier de Jaime of the Centro de Estudios del Jiloca, who has studied and promoted these stands for years.
The Fiesta del Chopo Cabecero combines the protection of this cultural landscape feature with local economic activity. It aims to pass on practical knowledge of tree care, help municipalities organise joint workdays and show how traditional use, biodiversity and the preservation of rural identity work together. Regional institutions provide information materials, and guided tours of historic stands are planned locally. The award to Pancrudo recognises, in particular, the continuous, community-organised care along the Río Pancrudo and the public outreach around this work.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).