People in Marbella will get their first chance to explore Marbella’s urban ecological gardens when the Asociación de Huertos Ecológicos Urbanos Marbella Verde holds an open day on Saturday, 14 November.

The event runs from 10am to 4pm at Huerta del Prado on Avenida Diego Jiménez Lima and is backed by Marbella Town Hall. It marks the association’s first “jornada de puertas abiertas” and is designed to let families see the work carried out across the site, which currently has around 76 plots of roughly 40 square metres each and close to 100 members.

Best start with tradition and culture in food

The morning begins with a Mediterranean breakfast of mollete with locally produced extra virgin olive oil for the first 150 arrivals. From 11am onwards visitors can join workshops on composting, tile painting, sowing and identifying aromatic plants and the small wildlife that lives among the plots. Traditional craft demonstrations will include pottery on the wheel, wood carving and basketry, the last led by Francisco Rubio, one of the few remaining artisans of the trade in the province, who comes from Genalguacil.

A market of proximity products will feature honey, olive oil, cheeses, bread and preserves, while a food area will serve paella and other Mediterranean dishes. Additional activities include sound therapy, a photo call and “El árbol de los deseos”, with the programme arranged so children and adults can take part together.

Inviting neighbours back to nature

Association spokesperson María José Villanueva said the aim is to open the facilities so families can see the work first-hand. Councillor for Citizen Participation Enrique Rodríguez described the day as an example of neighbour-led involvement in caring for the environment and promoting sustainable habits, noting that it is supported through council subsidies.

The gardens, which have operated for around 15 years, are managed by the non-profit association formed in 2024. They focus on natural growing methods without chemicals and have previously donated produce from a solidarity plot to the Red Cross for local families in need (as covered in Marbella’s harvest of hope). Organisers present the site as a green space close to the town centre that combines community growing with practical education on sustainability.

The open day is free to attend and requires no registration. Full details are available from the association and Marbella Town Hall.

Malaga Port is preparing for one of its biggest infrastructure projects in decades, with a €58.5 million expansion about to create more than 70,000 square metres of additional operating space and allow larger cargo ships to use its facilities.

The Port Authority has opened the contracting for construction of a new Muelle 8 and the extension of Muelle 9, with companies invited to submit bids by December 10, 2026.

The contract is valued at approximately €58.5 million including tax. Construction is expected to take 27 months once the contract has been awarded.

Why does Malaga Port need to expand?

The investment comes as commercial activity at the port continues to grow. During the first half of 2026, Malaga handled more than three million tonnes of goods, an increase of 13.2 per cent compared with the same period last year. Container traffic also rose by 16.1 per cent.

Much of the demand comes from agricultural and food-related cargo, creating a need for more storage space and additional facilities to handle incoming and outgoing shipments.

The new Muelle 8 will provide approximately 70,000 square metres of additional operational and storage space, while extending Muelle 9 will give container operators room to handle two ships simultaneously.

The project also includes deepening the harbour basin to 15.6 metres, allowing vessels with a draught of up to 13.5 metres to enter.

A changing Malaga waterfront

The expansion is not simply about accommodating more ships. Malaga’s waterfront is undergoing a wider transformation, with the planned San Andres developments and future city auditorium placing additional pressure on the port’s available land.

Around 31,000 square metres currently used for bulk cargo operations will be affected by these developments, making replacement commercial space particularly important.

Readers can also see how the city’s transport plans connect with this development in our coverage of the Guadalmedina tunnel project.

The port is also looking further its existing boundaries, with plans involving additional freight-handling space at Los Prados. Part of the Port Authority’s wider 2026–2030 investment programme, the expansion forms part of a strategy to strengthen Malaga’s position in Mediterranean trade while the city continues to reshape its waterfront.

For residents, the project represents another major step in Malaga’s economic development, with construction, transport and logistics businesses potentially benefiting from the increased activity.