La Dehesa de la Villa is a park located northwest of the city of Madrid (Spain), specifically in the neighborhood of University City district of Moncloa-Aravaca. Its main feature is that it maintains its status as forest, being mostly without landscaping.
Formerly known as the Dehesa de Amaniel, after its owner, Lope de Amaniel, archer of Henry II of Castile. The description "of the Town" is due to the status of "Villa y Corte" holding the city of Madrid.

History:

In 1152, King Alfonso VII of Castile donated to the Villa de Madrid on land where the current park is located, which were used for grazing, losing much of its original oak. It is known that in 1457 the so-called Altos de Amaniel occupied and 2,529 bushels from 1485 supplied the meat to the villa. Over time it lost Dehesa extension because successive rulers built in these areas.
In 1530, 1,570 bushels were used for farming and in 1608 was parceled and leased much of the Dehesa to pay for the relocation of the Court to Valladolid and construction of the Palacio Real. Fernando VI sold 327 bushels, bringing the total area was reduced to just 698. Charles II arranged the Vereda de Carabineros, current street Francos Rodríguez, who was the road that connected the palace of the Buen Retiro and El Pardo. Carlos IV took another 418 bushels to incorporate the Royal Site of Florida.
With Elizabeth II came to an area of similar size to the current. During this time, or Amaniel Dehesa de la Villa was a space for recreational use and all local citizens. On May 11, 1860, the African army entered Madrid and camped for two days in the Dehesa, visited by thousands of locals. A year later the land was sold to the public welfare to build a mental model that was never lifted. In 1890, 10,000 trees were planted, which increased its audience.
Since 1901, the state gave in usufruct to the municipality for public recreation. In 1929 he lifted the Ciudad Universitaria de la Universidad Complutense, which occupied 320 acres. During the Civil War became a line of defense of the city and its lands were sharp fighting.
After the war were built in the campus buildings such as the Virgen de la Paloma Institute, the Center for Energy, Environment and Technology (CIEMAT), the Armed Police Headquarters or Medical Institute Fabiola de Mora y Aragón.

Flora and fauna:

Throughout its history, "Dehesa de la Villa has undergone a reduction of the original oaks, due to human use. In times of Elizabeth II began restocking with pine trees, mainly pine and Aleppo, currently the most common tree in the park. In addition to the aforementioned oak tree is another survivor of the Mediterranean forest, the oak. There are also almond, mostly bitter, and acacia, common especially near the street Francos Rodríguez.
In the wet valleys appear poplar, ash and elm, the latter are attacked by DED. In the gardens are many cypress trees with mimosas, cedar, laurel and Pissard plums. At the edges of roads extends the ailanthus.
In the substrate shrub thickets found, broom, rosemary and blackberries, among others.
La Dehesa de la Villa, has a great large variety of birds, there have been sighted more than 70 species of birds, makes it a jewel in the parks of Madrid. In it, the most common birds are:

Sedentary birds

birds can be seen all year:
-House Sparrow
-Chaffinch
-Serin
-Magpie
-Tit
-Rock Pigeon
-Ringdove
-Black starling
-Tit
-Blackbird
-Blackcap
-Goldfinch
-Short-toed Treecreeper
-Tit
-Pito Real
Mammals: The red squirrel is the mammal most easily observed among the pine trees and climbing their trunks.