Butterflies, citizen science and farmers' voices come together in the Quípar Valley.
Finca La Junquera · Caravaca de la Cruz, Murcia, Spain
Free entry
On 10 October, FIREFLIES will take part in Festival Raíces del Quípar, a day dedicated to rural life, local knowledge and the landscapes of the Quípar Valley. The festival is organised by Regeneration Academy (RA), the FIREFLIES partner leading the project's Murcia demo region in the valley.
From 09:00 to 18:00, Finca La Junquera will bring together farmers, livestock keepers, families, nature enthusiasts, artisans and local organisations through talks, workshops, educational activities, food, crafts and music.
As part of the programme, two FIREFLIES activities will approach biodiversity from complementary perspectives: discovering butterflies in the landscape and creating a space for farmers to exchange experiences and discuss the future of farming in the valley.
On the trail of butterflies (12:00-13:30)
Tras el rastro de las mariposas will take families on a guided walk through the Fuente del Quípar, fields and orchards to discover the butterflies living in the landscape.
Led by entomologist Diego Gil Tapetado, the activity will introduce participants to butterfly identification and to the European Butterfly Monitoring Scheme (eBMS), showing how field observations and citizen science can contribute to our understanding of butterfly populations and biodiversity.
The walk is especially recommended for families and children.
Registration is required – Register for the activity
Farmers' Coffee (15:00-16:30)
What is in it for farmers in the Quípar Valley?
The Farmers' Coffee will create a space to exchange experiences and explore opportunities for regenerating farms in the valley, bringing together local perspectives and experiences from further afield.
With contributions from Angelica Marchetti, Silvia Quarta, Alfonso Sánchez, Juan Miguel Valverde and Joan Valverde, the session will look at the experiences of young farmers and discuss a question that matters for the future of rural areas: can regenerative agriculture help support generational renewal?
The conversation also connects directly with FIREFLIES work in Murcia, where farmers and other local actors will help co-design biodiversity-friendly practices suited to the realities of the territory. Their experience and priorities will be an important part of shaping the restoration pathways explored in the project.
Explore the full festival
Festival Raíces del Quípar runs from 09:00 to 18:00, with a wider programme of talks, workshops, food, local products, educational activities and traditional music.
