UPDATE ON PROGRESS

After many months the eco-resort and nature school of Jardin al Andalus is nearing completion. With the help of many local workers the internet service has been upgraded, seven bedrooms have been prepared for guests, the kitchen garden has been tended so that vegetables and fruit will be ready for eating, the water wells are full, firewood has been gathered and courses planned so that our visitors can enjoy and appreciate the nature that surrounds us.

Four pilot groups of visitors will be the first guests to experience Jardin al Andalus this year.
We are trialing a group of 5 people in May, two groups of 10 in June, and two groups in the autumn. These guests will be given access to the facilities in Jardin al Andalus and provide feedback. To improve the experience they are enjoying, we will ask them to:
· rate the local cuisine grown in our kitchen garden and cooked in our kitchen by local chefs
· enjoy an outing with a local flora and fauna specialist
· take part in a demonstration of almond harvesting and processing
· greet the sunrise with an early morning ‘yoga in the mountains’ session
There will also be a visit to the local honey museum and a talk about the unique way of life in this Andalusian town. 
Following these visits, we will review guests' comments and continually improve so we are ready to open up Jardin al Andalus later in the year.

The perfect Andalusian experience is focused on meticulous ecological standards.

El Jardin al Andalus is a boutique rural property which provides a bespoke Andalusian experience. Positioned on a spectacular hilltop with panoramic views of stunning countryside, dotted with olive and almond trees, it is built adjacent to protected land, a stone’s throw from the beautiful Montes de Malaga with its unique wildlife, flora and fauna. This situation makes El Jardin al Andalus an ideal site for relaxing and enjoying the beauty of nature: walking, bird-watching, nature photography, as well as an introduction to the local industries such as beekeeping, wine appreciation, olive-oil production, and other Andalusia delights such as regional cookery, flamenco dancing and musicianship.

There are also courses on Mediterranean gardening as well as tennis coaching and opportunities for cycling, horse-riding and swimming. They are taught on-site by local experts and allow for interactivity, guests joining in and harvesting olives, for example, cooking and painting the unique landscape. As the facilities are attractive to corporate guests, hospitality for executive entertainment, courses and events will also be offered. The property opens in spring 2024.

The School of Nature is set on top of 20 acres of glorious folding hillside which stretches down on three sides to streams and river beds.

Hundreds of almond and olive trees dot the landscape, in valleys of wildflowers and shrubs, providing food for the hives of local bees which make the honey for which Colmenar is famous. The town also supports several thriving goat farms which make its famous cheese, and from the hotel can be heard the bells of the herds of goats grazing in the rolling landscape.

Adjacent is the unique Persian Garden from which the property takes its name. The very idea of a garden originated in Persia. This garden incorporates the essential ingredients of the first gardens ever created on this earth: water, shade and sustenance from citrus fruits, figs, pomegranates, olives and dates. The spectacular garden is edged by myrtle and laced through with gentle rills of running water. We are proud that all running water is sourced from our own well water and re-circulated for irrigation.

To the west we have created terraces of olives and almonds, to the south a stunning walk lined by statues of 20 Saints – local, national and personal – protect and guide the visitor down to a 100 year old Spanish Oak. Throughout the gardens an exhibition of sculptures, large and small, allow local artists to exhibit their works, so there is always something new to discover.

The hillsides that surround the hotel are covered in indigenous plants: three types of fragrant thymes, santolina, wild rosemary, yellow genista and scarlet poppies. Oak trees, Mediterranean pines, cypress trees and carob complete the picture. On arrival, the scent of Peruvian pepper trees greet the visitor and calming jasmine pervades the courtyard. One of the owners is a garden writer and her planting decisions strike the senses immediately. The cool magnolia and citrus trees delight the visitor. Guests who are keen on visiting Andalusian gardens can make the hotel their base for visiting the Alhambra and Generalife in Granada, the Jardins Botanico de la Concepcion in Malaga, La Casa del Rey Moro in Ronda, The Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos and the Patio de los Naranjos in Cordoba.