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The 250 small fir-trees which formed the Christmas tree of the Greek capital were returned in the nature. From today the trees are part of the new forest in Penteli neighborhood close to the palace of the duchess Placentia.  

Dozens of citizens responsible for the protection and preservation of the mountain gathered today and planted over 2 500 young trees on an area of 20 da. Like this they gave the birth of a new forest in a region which was seriously affected by the fires in the summer. Volunteer citizens came there carrying with their personal cars plant pots with natural fir-trees from their homes. A particular satisfaction from the event was written on the face of the mayor of Penteli Dimitris Stergiou. Dressed in work clothes and with a megaphone in his hand he was looking at the work on planting of the trees with enthusiasm and was helping the volunteers. At the event were present his colleagues from neighboring municipalities – mayors of Halandri, Maroussi, Kifisia, Pireaus. Of course other officials also didn’t miss the event. With his personal Christmas tree and with the ministerial Christmas tree for the cause came also the deputy minister of foreign affairs Dimitris Droutsas. Here was also the actor from many successful television serials Ioannis Bougas. Three football child teams of the Penteli Academy also helped for planting the trees. “It gives great joy to the children”, said Vasilis Dukakos – chairman of the municipal corporation part of which is the academy. “They like to be part of this event and that they can follow the growth of the forest”. Vasilis Dukakos himself has been a volunteer for 50 years. He knows like the finger of his hands all the paths of the local forest and talks with sorrow about the damages caused by the fires. “Until a year ago we were regularly organizing weekend mountain routs. However only one or two of the paths we know are left”, tells Dukakos. He expresses his hopes for the restoration of the beautiful nature in the region and is thrilled to watch the citizens who came here to contribute for this. He is happy for the good example they give to their children. Actually on the event besides the dozens of grown ups there were a lot of children.

The initiative was organized by the association for protection and restoration of the mountain Penteli with the assistance of the media holding SKY and the participation of the Athens municipality. With about 300 trees the governmental organization Greenbelt took part and with 1 500 was Halandri municipality.