O Couto in Bloom is a landscape and ecological revitalisation initiative launched in the rural village of O Couto in the municipality of Ponteceso (A Coruña, Spain). Led by the Juana de Vega and Eduardo Pondal Foundations and with the support of the Galician Institute for the Study of the Territory (IET), the project aims to spark sustainable and participatory transformation processes that highlight local identity, landscape, and traditional knowledge.

A project inspired by the values of the New European Bauhaus
Rooted in the core values of the New European Bauhaus —beauty, sustainability, and inclusion— O Couto in Bloom applies a methodology based on participatory diagnosis, small-scale interventions, and community engagement. From the outset, the initiative has been envisioned as a space for art, nature, and collective care, inviting residents to co-design and implement actions that reinforce the cultural, ecological, and social value of the rural landscape.

Three phases and a few surprises...

Phase 1 | Seeds: participatory landscape diagnosis
The first phase focused on getting to know the territory through dialogue and community engagement. In April 2024, more than 50 local residents took part in an open workshop to identify the village’s values and challenges and co-create proposals for improvement. Using tools such as emotional mapping and intergenerational exchange, the session promoted creativity and collective reflection while valuing local knowledge.

Phase 2 | May in Bloom: artistic and ecological interventions with social impact
In this second phase, a range of selected proposals —refined by a team of landscape architects— were brought to life, combining principles of sustainability, identity, and local circular economy.

• The pottery artisans from Feituras (Buño) designed custom ceramic planters featuring the project’s visual identity.
• Large wooden planters were produced by Máis Porvir Xestión Social, a carpentry company that supports the inclusion of people with disabilities.
• Botanical advice and floral selection were led by Cel Ogando Flores Artesanais, specialised in organic floriculture, who also conducted a kokedama workshop with residents.
• Art met landscape in the mural Cantareiras, created by artist Joseba MP, celebrating local memory of women in folk music history.

The intervention culminated in a volunteer planting day, where neighbours installed the new planters and sowed flower meadows to boost biodiversity and create pollinator-friendly habitats.

Phase 3 | Harvest: evaluation, recognition and future action
At the end of the summer, the project’s outcomes were shared and evaluated in a public event that brought the community together. Participants walked through the village to assess the progress of each intervention and propose next steps to ensure long-term care and possible replication in other areas. The event was attended by the Galician Regional Minister for Environment and Climate Change, who took part in an awards ceremony recognising the neighbours' involvement and dedication to cultivating a more vibrant, cared-for and shared landscape.

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Special event | San Xoán: Herbario do Cacho
Alongside the main project phases, a special event was held on the magical night of San Xoán (St. John’s Eve), when the community came together to revive one of Galicia’s most deeply rooted traditions. In O Couto, as in many other villages, this ritual centres around the preparation of the cacho: a water-filled bowl into which a selection of aromatic and medicinal plants are placed, traditionally collected from seven different springs. Left to rest overnight outdoors, this infusion is used the next morning as a symbolic act of purification and protection. Inspired by the poem É noite de San Xoán by Eduardo Pondal —in which several of these plants are named— the community, guided by local elders, set out to identify and collect the most representative species used in O Couto. This shared effort gave rise to a botanical and artistic herbarium that documents the local plant knowledge associated with San Xoán and contributes to the intergenerational transmission of this unique intangible heritage.

O Couto Florido heads to Thessaloniki
In recognition of its innovative and community-driven approach, O Couto Florido was presented in September 2025 in Thessaloniki (Greece) as part of the European project Picobello, in a session dedicated to sharing best practices aligned with the New European Bauhaus. The initiative was showcased as a replicable model for integrating art, biodiversity, local participation and cultural identity in rural regeneration strategies.

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O Couto in Bloom proves that rural landscape renewal is possible from within: drawing on local resources, community involvement and a deep care for place. Its accessible and adaptable methodology offers a roadmap for other villages in Galicia and across Europe that aspire to revitalise their rural environments through beauty, sustainability, and shared responsibility for the landscape.cabilidad en otras aldeas de Galicia y en otros contextos europeos que busquen revitalizar sus espacios rurales con criterios de belleza, sostenibilidad y comunidad.