A tribute to Madrid's spontaneous flora
With the arrival of spring, Madrid is preparing to celebrate a new edition of the festival Wild, Untamed and Spontaneous, which will take place from 10 to 25 April. This event, organised by La Casa Encendida of the Montemadrid Foundation, aims to change citizens' perceptions of the plants that grow in the most unexpected corners of the city, such as cracks and tree pits.
One of the standout proposals this year is the return of the scent beds, a participatory installation that pays tribute to the late artist Jerónimo Hagerman. According to the festival coordinator, Alberto Peralta, this installation invites visitors to lie among aromatic plants and contemplate the sky while being enveloped by natural fragrances. The idea is to foster an intimate connection with the plant environment from a relaxing perspective.
Unlike previous editions, where activities were concentrated at La Casa Encendida, this year the festival expands to various iconic spaces such as San Cristóbal, Moratalaz, Casa de Campo, and Retiro. This decentralisation aims to reveal the hidden potential of wild flora in urban settings and reclaim its space through guided walks, interactive workshops, and film screenings.
Wild, Untamed and Spontaneous has the active collaboration of collectives such as Nomad Garden, Antropoloops, as well as botany experts like Ramón Gómez and Daniel Iraberri. The scheduled activities are mostly free and designed to educate the public on how to recognise, value, and utilise a biodiversity that often goes unnoticed in the urban landscape.
Those interested in participating can reserve their tickets through the official event website. With a practical approach and enriching local experiences, this festival promises to be a meeting point between citizens and their natural environment. The invitation is made: rediscover Madrid from a new perspective filled with wildlife.
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