In recent weeks, several spaces of this kind have come to the forefront. These range from an international designation for the Royal Botanical Garden of the CSIC (Spanish National Research Council) to the restoration of a garden ravaged by fire, as well as artisan markets, children's water parks, and community projects spearheaded by retirees. The diversity of initiatives demonstrates that these spaces are vibrant and deeply connected to their surroundings.
Botanical research with a Spanish accent
The Royal Botanical Garden of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) has taken on a new international responsibility. Researcher Gonzalo Nieto Feliner has been elected president of OPTIMA, the Organization for Phytotaxonomic Research of the Mediterranean Area, for the next six years. The appointment took place during the organization's 18th Congress, held in NevÅŸehir, in the Cappadocia region of Turkey, and he succeeds Italian professor Francesco M. Raimondo, from the University of Palermo.
OPTIMA is an international association that brings together specialists dedicated to the study of Mediterranean botany. It holds congresses every three years and has thematic committees to promote scientific collaboration. Among the challenges facing the new executive committee are strengthening the activity of nearly a dozen committees, increasing cooperation between congresses, and incorporating new generations of researchers. The organization celebrated its 50th anniversary last year.
Born in Madrid in 1958, Nieto Feliner is a Research Professor at the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) in the Royal Botanical Garden. With a PhD in Biology, specializing in Botany, from the Complutense University of Madrid, his research focuses on understanding current plant diversity through evolutionary processes. His career includes serving as Director of the Royal Botanical Garden from 2006 to 2014 and as Vice President of the International Association for Plant Taxonomy from 2017 to 2023.
Furthermore, she chaired the organizing committee of the XX International Botanical Congress, held in Spain in 2024, the first time this event had taken place in the country. Within the Royal Botanical Garden, she has participated in outreach initiatives such as the RJB Scientific Marathon and the Botanical Garden Diary. Her arrival at OPTIMA marks the beginning of a new phase focused on maintaining an active scientific network beyond the triennial meetings.
Artisan market in the Botanical Garden of Cordoba
The Royal Botanical Garden of Córdoba is bringing back its Botanical Market this Sunday, October 4th, a leisure activity for Sunday mornings. Handmade crafts, local artisans, and live music will come together in this space after the summer break. The market will be open from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM and admission is free, taking place every Sunday starting this month.
The stalls will bring together local artisans who will display and sell unique, handcrafted pieces. There will be everything from accessories and decorative items to textiles and other artisanal products. The chosen location adds to the appeal , as the Royal Botanical Garden is situated on Linneo Avenue and is part of IMGEMA, the municipal organization dedicated to research, species conservation, and environmental education.
The venue also offers a program that extends beyond its scientific focus, with exhibitions, concerts, workshops, craft demonstrations, and other cultural activities. The opening of the new season will have a special component: starting at noon, a live performance by the Irish Celtic Band is scheduled to accompany the market's opening.
Barakaldo bids farewell to the water park at the Botanical Garden
The Barakaldo City Council closed the first season of the water park installed in June at the Botanical Garden on Wednesday, September 30. This is the first water play area of ​​its kind in the municipality, and its operation ended with the summer season. It will remain closed from Thursday, October 1, for the next few months, and the water features will be dismantled.
Maintenance and preparation work will also be carried out to get the facility ready for the upcoming season. The Councilor for Public Works for the Neighborhoods and the City, Jon Andoni Uria, noted that the first summer of operation has been very successful. Families have been able to enjoy a new leisure activity in a setting like the Botanical Garden, and it has been confirmed that this type of space is very popular with children.
Next summer, Barakaldo will reopen that park, but it won't be the only one. The City Council is already well advanced in contracting for the water park that will be installed in the new Serralta park, which will be presented soon. The city's commitment to children's leisure activities is thus expanding with new infrastructure designed for the summer season.
A botanical garden created by retirees in Molins de Rei
The effects of climate change have increased awareness of the importance of maintaining biodiversity. From small projects, like creating a pond in your backyard, to large-scale initiatives, such as revitalizing abandoned land and transforming it into a botanical garden, any action can help preserve local flora and fauna. This idea led Marià Caimo , a retired resident of Molins de Rei, to launch a project he had been considering for years, along with a group of other pensioners.
After dedicating his life to social work at a vocational center in Sabadell and taking early retirement at 63, accepting the reduced pension, Caimo decided to use his newfound freedom to revitalize a 200-square-meter plot of land at the Can Vilagut farmhouse. The land was overgrown with weeds, and his goal was to transform it into a botanical garden to preserve the area's biodiversity. The project began in November 2019 when he contacted the farmhouse owners.
The restoration work began in December with the help of two colleagues. The first year was dedicated to clearing the area of ​​weeds and designing the garden. Once they had a clear vision, they began planting the first species. The first two years were the most challenging , as Caimo explained to La Vanguardia, because they had to carry out the hardest work preparing the land. Six years later, the result is a garden where a variety of plants, insects, and animals have found refuge.
The chosen species are native to Mediterranean forests, guaranteeing their survival and adaptation to the terrain. The selection was the result of years of interest and research by Caimo. It wasn't solely his work : ten other members, also retired, participated in creating this space for biodiversity preservation and raising awareness. The garden already receives visits from local schools.
In addition to gardening, the pensioners have become guides, explaining to children the different species of trees, plants, insects, and animals. Caimo pointed out that their aim is to encourage in the youngest children a respect for and knowledge not only of plants, but also of the environment and the importance of its conservation. Botanical gardens are key spaces for preserving native plants and providing refuge for native insects and animals within urban environments, as well as generating peace and tranquility for those who visit them.
Burgohondo: a garden marked by fire
On July 25th, the Burgohondo fire destroyed 95% of the Tiétar Valley Botanical Garden. Axel Mahlau, the garden's manager, told Isabel Gemio the history of the garden and how the flames devastated it. Little by little, the area is regenerating , offering a glimmer of hope for the recovery of this natural space.
The news of the fire stands in stark contrast to the usual activity at other botanical gardens, but it underscores the fragility of these sites in the face of extreme weather events. Their reconstruction and conservation depend as much on the work of their staff as on the support of government agencies and the public. The Burgohondo case serves as a reminder that these spaces can also fall victim to environmental disasters.
These stories together paint a comprehensive picture of botanical gardens in Spain. There's room for international research , artisan markets, family leisure activities, community-based biodiversity restoration projects, and memorials to areas damaged by fire. They all share an essential function: bringing nature closer to everyday life and reminding us that conserving our plant heritage is a collective responsibility.
