Create or improve outdoor spaces to help people escape from urban heat

A roof garden of about 370 square meters was built on the new building of the Diakonissenklinik in the course of the general renovation. The new intensive greening of the roof can be seen from many hospital wards and serves as an additional recreation facility for its patients (Ref. 1).

Thanks to an initiative by the citizens of Sofia, called Green Rails in Sofia, grass was planted by the Municipality on a an area of newly reconstructed tram line in Sofia. The cited benefits were heat reduction, noise reduction, aesthetics, natural water retention and drainage, and lower costs of maintenance in the long term compared to grey alternatives. The grassroots initiative “Green Rails in Sofia” are determined to keep putting pressure on the local authority to continue planting grass on other parts of the tram lines. (Ref. 1; Ref. 2; Ref. 3)

The Sea Heroes Garden is a community garden that was initiated by citizens on an empty lot with the goal to create a garden in which children can play, fruit and vegetables are grown organically and social activities are organized.(1) In the garden, multiple measures allow for storm water retention and the vegetation provides habitat for a broad variety of species. (5).

Slachthuisplein in the Hague, a large public grey square was transformed into a green ‘oasis’ which provides recreational facilities for adults and a playground for children. The citizens and children were involved in the design of the green square and the initiative was selected by the municipality as one of their climate change adaptation measures as it stores stormwater. (1,2,5).

Sofia is Europe's most polluted capital and the World Health Organization alarmed that Bulgaria ranks second in the world in terms of deaths due to air pollution per capita. In response to that, the coalition Sofia - Green Capital planned to buy neglected urban land and plant an Urban Forest in order to restore the green passes that lead the fresh air from the mountain to the city. The Urban Forest is expected to improve the air quality, sequestrate carbon emissions, and also provide a place for walks and play. (Ref. 1; Ref. 2). The planting process started in 2018 and around nearly 60,000 saplings were planted over 225 acres by over 6,500 volunteers and over 50 companies joined in. (Ref 7, 8)

The FUTURE - a project of 100,000 trees in the Porto Metropolitan Area - is a planned and coordinated effort of various organizations and citizens to create and maintain native urban forests in this region, which needs to enrich its biodiversity, sequester carbon, improve quality of air, protect their soil and contribute to a better quality of life for regional people. The 100,000 Trees Project for the Porto Metropolitan Area” intends to restore 100 hectares of urban forest with native trees. (1, 2)

Emscher Landschaftspark is a regional park system in the northern Ruhr area. It is a regional cooperation project between several post-industrial cities that want to create a coherent park system and regenerate natural environment in the area (Ref. 1). A crucial vision for the redevelopment is that the Emscher Landscape Park would act as a "green connector" between the settlements of the Rhur valley, following the path of the Emscher River and using the abandoned industrial areas along it as a unique form of green space (Ref. 6). "Created after the disappearance and decline of the industry in the area, it has been a key instrument for the territorial, social and economical transformation of what was once the largest industrial region in Europe" (Ref. 12).

In 2014, local residents of the St. Pauli neighbourhood of Hamburg supported by architects decided to reshape the Hilldegarden bunker built during WW II. They managed to convince the owner of the bunker, who currently leases the rooms of the bunker to a nightclub, a music school, an instrument store and a photography studio, to re-create the bunker in a way that pays special attention to ecological and social aspects. (Reference 1-3). ”The new project would see the space continue its mixed-use atmosphere, but topped with a massive public rooftop garden with walking trails.” The 800 sqm garden will use sustainable techniques for its operation, including renewable energies and greywater collection for irrigation and will offer a public garden where residents can engage in urban food production. (Reference 2) In September 2020, the reconstruction of the bunker is still in its early phases. (Ref. 8)

The Haumanngarten is a community garden in Essen founded by the Transition Town movement (Ref. 1). Since May 2015 a mixed group have been growing vegetables, herbs, flowers and berries on a former playground. Fellow gardeners with and without knowledge of gardening participate in the garden (Ref. 2).

A tree planting programme (part of existing community greening initiative in the Mersey Forest) that is helping to transform Wirral into a thriving economic hub (trees planted on streets including Price Street, Cleveland Street, Argyle Street, and Hamilton Street, which are key transport routes around the Wirral Waters investment area). Trees will also be planted at Wirral Met College, as well as in social housing landscapes and gardens. (Ref. 1, 2). The project was completed in 2015 but similar initiatives have been taking place in Wirral since. There is no apparent connection between these projects and the 2012-15 project. (Ref. 7, 8)