Alcúdia acquires Gatamoix colony: nature, culture and education for Puig de Sant Martí

Alcúdia acquires Gatamoix colony: nature, culture and education for Puig de Sant Martí

Es Poble Nou becomes part of the public park — space for learning projects, youth work and nature conservation

On a cold morning, when the church bells in the Plaça and the scent of freshly brewed coffee drift through the narrow streets, a conversation sometimes starts in Alcúdia: What will happen to the old fields on Puig de Sant Martí? The answer is now on the table — the municipality has purchased the former agricultural colony Gatamoix, also known as Es Poble Nou.

The area covers around 90,000 square meters and will become part of the municipal park at Puig de Sant Martí. Purchase price: about €874,000. For many here this does not sound like a big headline, but rather an opportunity to preserve something familiar: a piece of landscape that carries the memory of terraces, olive trees and rural paths.

According to the municipality, projects for education, youth work, culture and environmental protection are to be created on the site. Possible uses include outdoor classrooms, workshops on sustainable agriculture, meeting places for young people from Alcúdia and neighboring towns, and measures to promote biodiversity. Concrete plans will be developed step by step — first secure, then shape is the motto.

For residents this mainly means: accessibility instead of a private fence. Strollers, families with prams and older neighbors who take their morning walks will soon see more green spaces, outdoor learning places and likely small stages or exhibition areas for local events. Someone leaving the market on a Sunday afternoon and looking toward the Puig will soon have a different view — fewer abandoned ruins, more uses for the community.

The decision has two sides that often come together here in conversations about land and identity: on the one hand, the preservation of rural heritage; on the other, the chance to introduce young people to nature and culture. That both are possible makes the purchase pleasing news for many.

From an environmental protection perspective, the publicly managed area opens up scope for rewilding. Dry stone walls, wet spots and old rows of trees can be specifically protected and ecologically enhanced. Small measures such as installing nesting aids, tending native plants or reducing sealed surfaces would have immediate effects here. Similar transfers to public ownership have been reported elsewhere, for example Balearic Islands bring Sa Bastida into public ownership – a gain for Alaró and the Tramuntana.

As often on the island, the best ideas are born locally: teachers, youth groups, conservation associations and neighborhood initiatives know the needs. The municipality has announced it will promote participatory processes — involvement instead of ready-made solutions. This fits well with the Sunday gatherings on the Plaça and the spontaneous discussions in the café by the harbor.

For Alcúdia itself the project is a form of urban self-care. The Puig de Sant Martí remains a green lung, and the connection between the old town and the mountain landscape will be strengthened. Tourist interests are not the focus; it's about everyday life, education and local culture — about places that belong to the residents. Similar municipal land initiatives have appeared in nearby towns, for example Algaida wants to buy Son Reus de Randa and give the island a piece of land back.

What comes now is not a finished vision but an invitation: design plans, roll up sleeves, start small pilot projects. For parents, teachers and young people it offers the chance to develop their own formats — from gardening projects to open-air cinema evenings. Such openness makes the initiative a model for other municipalities on Mallorca; local recognition of village identity and community projects can be seen in stories like Fornalutx and Alcúdia celebrate their inclusion in the 'Pueblos Más Bonitos' network.

In the end there remains a feeling often experienced on the island: when public spaces are consciously preserved, not only notices and flyers benefit but people regain their everyday life. The takeover of Gatamoix is a moment of relief in Alcúdia — not loud, more like a window opening and letting in fresh air.

Outlook: The coming months will show which projects start first. Those who want to get involved should follow municipal announcements — and keep their eyes open on a walk to Puig de Sant Martí. That a piece of nature and history is now in municipal hands is a good start for education, culture and the environment in Alcúdia.