Some 500 ancient olive trees that were about to be destroyed and sold off for firewood have been saved by two conservationists in a Project known as Elektra that saw the trees (each weighing up to 7,000kg) being transported hundreds of miles by land and sea from the Peloponnese to the Greek island of Ios. Thanks to the determination of Angelos and Vassiliki Petridou-Michalopoulos and their expert team for this unprecedented initiative, almost all of the olive trees are now thriving on a 1,000 acre coastal estate, which they purchased 15 years ago with a view to protecting it from mass tourism.  With each tree re-homed at a cost of several thousand euros, the ever-expanding Elektra Project has no economic justification whatsoever, and stems purely from the couple's love of the natural landscape and their passion for the native olive tree, which in Greece symbolises resurrection and hope.

This inspiring and ongoing environmental Project in the Cyclades (a further 68 trees have been transported so far this year) has transplanted not only 500 threatened olive trees, many of them some 700 years old, but also seen the planting of more than 55,000 trees and bushes to restore habitats on Ios that were previously destroyed by deforestation and wild fires. Since its foundation in 2013, the Elektra Project olive trees have experienced a remarkable survival rate of 95%.  In a country where bureaucracy can be slow and difficult, the Elektra Project stands out as a testament to how far passion and sheer determination can lead.

The Re-Homing Process

Each tree has its branches trimmed and removed so that, once replanted, it will have fewer limbs to feed and thus increase its chances of survival. It is then excavated and loaded onto a flatbed lorry which reaches Ios by a combination of road and ferry. On arrival the trees are gently unloaded, the soil is tested for its pH, growth hormones are applied to the roots and the trees replanted by specialists, before being given a number and GPS location. Every stage of the process is done with care and attention.

The husband and wife team pioneered the Elektra Project in 2013 as part of LuxurIos, a small collection of luxurious boutique hotels, villas, beach bars, restaurants and lounges that they are developing on their land, based upon environmentally-friendly construction principles. And the Elektra Project is just one of the ways in which LuxurIos is making a positive and sustainable impact upon the island. Even the 26 olive trees that did not survive the replanting process are turned into sculptures and art installations, on display at some of the LuxurIos hotels or restaurants.

Once the olive trees have taken root in the island's soil, guests are invited to adopt a tree at a special name-giving ceremony and follow their rebirth and development on www.savingeternity.love. Many have been planted in the organic estate of Calilo, a new 5-star+ luxury spa resort opening on what is the most beautiful spot on the island, Papas Beach. In a remote 1,000-acre setting, the hotel will benefit from a 300m beach of pristine golden sand, some 30 suites, and be set among hiking trails perfumed with the scent of thyme and oregano.

All the LuxurIos developments are, as far as possible, constructed from materials extracted at the site itself, mostly from marble and granite, with each vast block cut and carved by local craftsmen.  Even the swimming pools and patios are constructed by painstakingly adding thousands of marble pieces (72,000 for two swimming pools alone) crafted by hand and placed together like a giant puzzle. The company has also invested heavily in ensuring that all their businesses are largely carbon neutral, utilising solar and geothermal energy.  Indeed at the 2018 Tourism Awards, the LuxurIos Group was presented with two Silver Awards: one in the 'Rational Energy Management' category, the other for Sustainable Development Initiatives.

The Island of Ios

Not only is the epic poet Homer said to have seen his last sunset on the island (his grave is supposedly at Plakoto), but it is also home to Skarkos, the oldest known prehistoric settlement dating from the Bronze Age (3,500BC). Its recent discovery changed the history of the Cyclades.  Once a hippie haven for those who left Matala on Crete, the island is little-visited save for the hill-top town of Chora and the single sandy beach of Mylopotas, which currently attracts a young crowd. Reached by ferry or boat in two hours from Mykonos or in 45 minutes from Santorini, this 70 sq mile island boasts some 365 chapels and 32 golden sandy beaches. Thought to be some of the best beaches in the Mediterranean, particularly those on the west coast, many of them can only be reached via dirt tracks or by boat.

For further information visit the LuxurIos website (luxurios.com)

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NOTE TO EDITORS:

A video showing the Elektra olive tree re-homing project can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIjLMhk-ZiY

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Julia Spence, Natalie Postlethwaite and Hugh Collins

Julia Spence Public Relations

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