Educational or biodiversity trails

Püspökerdő is a 250-hectare large forest in Győr, situated in the inner part of the city. The forest is split into two parts by Moson-Danube river. The forest is maintained by the company Kisalföld Erőgazdálkodási Zrt, which since 1998, has added new facilities to the area with the primary goal of serving the needs of those who visit the forest (Reference 1). It is equipped with educational trails, fireplaces, a clearing suitable for playing ball games, an outside gym and a playground. The educational trails give information about the flora and fauna of the forest in their natural environment. In 2013, a new adventure park was established to attract the nature-lover visitors looking for active recreational opportunities. In 2017, the local government planned a large-scale watersports project in the area, but it was cancelled due to criticism from citizens. In 2020, the forest was granted environmental protection by the local municipality (Reference 9).
Step by step the area has been developed since 1998, with the help of municipal and regional funds (educational trails), and private investment (adventure park). The adventure park was opened in 2013 and the latest development happened there in 2016.

The Schwanheimer dune is one of the few inland dunes in Europe. Sand, silver grass and gnarled pines shape the landscape, but also orchards and ponds are part of it (8). The area was designated as a nature reserve by the State of Hesse in 1984. Since its expansion in 2002, it now covers 58.5 hectares. Since 2003 it has also been protected as a Flora-Fauna Habitat area under European law contributing to the Natura2000 landscape (8). An approximately 400-meter-long boardwalk made of chestnut wood leads through the center of the dune on which visitors can enjoy nature on site - without harming it (8, 10). It was built in 1999 and completely rebuilt in 2017 with a lot of effort on the old route (8).

BIO.FOR.POLIS is a project for the cities of Caserta and Napoli, aiming at improving the biodiversity of the two forests under study. Their projects deal with the construction of streams within the Castelvolturno forest to connect the different parts of it. The two forest areas localized within an urban environment aim to improve the conditions of the ecosystems in a condition of human pressure. This is explicitly considered as a climate mitigation strategy. (Ref.1.)

A nature park in Bucharest containing the wetlands surrounding Lake Vacaresti. It was initially a swamp drained by the communist regime, which builds a complex of apartment blocks. In 2014 it was declared protected by the Romanian Government and named Văcărești Nature Park, and was approved as a natural protected area in 2016. (1)

The aim of the project was to protect and enhance the areas of core nature conservation interest and adopt environmental management principles to help reduce the impact of management operations on the environment. Linn park and Local Nature Reserve (LNR) is the second-largest park in the city. Linn Park comprises a mosaic of riparian woodland along the White Cart corridor principally broadleaf in character, mixed woodland plantation blocks connected by a series of mixed-species shelterbelts, scrub, meadow, amenity grassland, and parkland trees. The woodland provides habitat for a great variety and number of birds both resident and migratory. Some areas of the woodland have good ground flora diversity including the occurrence of Bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) in patches.
The park is particularly of note for its floristic and bird diversity with some 250 and 60 species recorded respectively. Some animals and plants of interest include Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar), Otter (Lutra lutra) and Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) and Great-spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major) and Toothwort (Lathraea squamaria) in the woodlands. It is scarce in Scotland and Linn Park and is one of only 3 sites in Glasgow this species is found (Ref 4). Linn Park and Local Nature Reserve (LNR) was awarded a Green Flag in 2013. The Green Flag Award is the benchmark national standard for quality parks and green spaces (Ref. 3).

The Mab Lane Community Woodland was planted on a former playing field at Mab lane and Croxdale Road West in Liverpool. It is a part of the larger Mersey Forest initiative which has been increasing the amount of woodland and green spaces across Cheshire and Merseyside since 1991.
The new woodland which has a network of native trees, wildflower meadows a community orchard as well as seasonal wetland areas and footpaths, was officially opened by the local community in 2010. It also includes new pathways for walkers and cyclists and areas for family picnics (Ref. 2, 10). Mab Lane Community Woodland is a partnership project involving the Forestry Commission, Northwest Development Agency, Mersey Forest, Big Lottery, Riverside Group, Liverpool City Council and the Local Community (Ref. 10).

The Green Belt in Frankfurt am Main spans in the inner area of the city and covers almost a third of the city's wider area which is around 80 square kilometres, around half of which is the city forest (6). In 1991, as stated in the city council's Green Belt Constitution, the Belt has been declared a protected open space while it also outlined the long term goal of securing and developing it (1). The green belt with its landscapes, excursion destinations and the large network of paths is important for the quality of life in Frankfurt and at the same time offers a place of retreat for plants and animals. It is essential for a good urban climate (1).

The park acts as a source of biodiversity for the whole Padana Plain. Many species are threatened by the loss or degradation of their habitats and the invasion of alien species. Of particular concern are the loss and degradation of wetlands and the degradation of streams, springs and secondary water courses. This project aims at restoring the natural habitat and reintroducing the original plant an animal species, while keeping under control invasive alien species. (1). The project is set to end on 31st of October 2020. (1)

A previous mining site was redeveloped into the Puits Couriot Park-Museum of Mining. "A first part of the park was opened to the public in 2006. Since then, the developments have followed one another and others are to come in the near future, among others, the footbridge spanning the railway line" (Ref. 5). The park was redesigned from 2014-2017 with the intention to preserve the historical heritage of this museum of the mine. "The park Joseph Sanguedolce (or also mentioned as Couriot Park) is designed to meet the usages of all, in a gentle logic of appropriation of the site by nature, conducive to walking and relaxation. The large lawn is maintained for sporting activities or relaxing in the grass, in the sun ..." (Ref. 3).

"Tirone Alto Vesuvio" is a park situated within the Vesuvio area in Naples, this area was recently qualified as an eco-campus (green infrastructure), a project realized in 2011 according to the European guidelines for sustainable tourism. In particular, the eco-campus has the goal to promote sustainable and zero-impact sports activities, in order to spread awareness on ecological issues. In addition, it provides important health benefits and social and cultural advantages (Ref.1).