Quinta Das Abelhas

Quinta Das Abelhas is a centre for systemic constellation work nestled in the mountains of Fornos de Algodres, Central Portugal. Founded in 2017 by Deborah Richmond, the project operates at the intersection of holistic health practice and ecological land regeneration. Deborah is a Systemic Constellation Practitioner with over thirteen years of experience, working primarily with women navigating chronic illness, autoimmune conditions, and menopause. Her approach is rooted in the Bert Hellinger lineage — developed through Caroline Ward and Jan Jacob Stam — and is complemented by training in yoga and shamanism. Sessions are available both online for clients worldwide and in-person in a small wooden cabin on the quinta. Beyond the health work, Quinta Das Abelhas is a living regenerative project. What began as a pine monoculture with ruins has slowly evolved into a landscape of returning biodiversity, soil and water system restoration, pollinator habitats, grazing animals, and monitored wild bee colonies. The land itself has become a teacher — guiding decisions through observation and patience rather than top-down planning. Guests are welcome to stay at the quinta, combining their visit with constellation sessions, massage, or hiking the surrounding trails beneath skies free from light pollution and beside a dolmen that has stood for five thousand years. A new initiative called the Course of Curiosity is currently being developed: a nine-hole experience in which each hole represents a living system — soil, water, pollinators, food growing, regeneration, and more — and poses questions about regenerative business ideas, designed for schools, families, scouts, and curious adults. The philosophy underpinning everything at Quinta Das Abelhas is one of humility and curiosity — an acknowledgement that the most meaningful learning emerges from paying attention rather than from having all the answers. The project continues to grow and evolve, guided by this ethos.