Green space and habitat

The Liège Expo 2017 Masterplan was developed for the city of Liège, as part of their bid to organize the International Expo of 2017. In this plan, the Expo was not just an exciting stand-alone event, but rather the start of a sustainable transformation and an ecofriendly future of the city. The proposed development on both banks of the River Maaswill aimed to create new access to the river and improve the quality of life and the sustainability of the city, all at the same time (Ref. 1). While Liege was not awarded the 2017 Expo, the decision was made by the City to continue the competitive dialogue procedure initiated with a view to developing the Coronmeuse site into an eco-district (Ref. 12). Construction was launched in 2020 (Ref. 14).

The City of Milan intends to carry out a functional intervention in the valley of Ticinello for the strengthening of the environmental matrix and of the structural characteristics aimed at improving the ecological connection. The project, which aims to contribute to the valorisation, strengthening and conservation of the natural heritage, as well as expand local biodiversity, through the realization of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, is necessary for the realization, development and enhancement of large-scale ecological corridors already identified by the instruments of territorial planning (1).

In 2010 a very special orchard was inaugurated in the Park of Villa Ghigi in Bologna, the first of its kind in the region and probably in Italy, to preserve the germplasm of some of the oldest varieties of fruit plants in the Emilia-Romagna region. The Orchard contains about thirty fruit trees, organized into homogeneous groups: olives, pears, apples, rowan and smaller fruits. Each plant is accompanied by a panel describing the characteristics of the plant, the agronomic and the cultural aspects, including the tree and fruit picture (1).

The project provides some improvements in the first part of the itinerary of the Navile river. In particular, it focuses on the restoration of the green system and the recovery of historical-architectural components in the area stretching between the Park of Villa Angeletti, the ancient village of Corticella and the municipality of Castel Maggiore. Restoring the route along the canal is the first step in an ambitious retraining hypothesis that sees Navile and its rich cultural and environmental heritage as the privileged axis for the recovery and development of the adjacent urban area (1).

The Project "Let's Open the Walls" is an integrated program of urban and social regeneration interventions that aimed to revitalize a portion of the Venice Commune (that is, one in the former neighbourhood Quartiere Due: Dorsoduro, Santa Marta, Giudecca, Santa Croce, San Basilio). The program, promoted by the City of Venice and funded by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport in 2004, provides for social inclusion and the weakest sections of the population and involved several interventions, including the planting of trees and the creation of green spaces for social activities. In particular, the Urban Italia program addressed to Venice is named: “Apriamo i Muri” (Opening the walls). It refers to the work-field “Quartiere 2” (District 2), in which are concentrated many actions that the city Administration has planned and approved during these last years. The Administration's objective was to transform and revitalize the degraded areas of the Venetian historical center, also through innovative actions. The program aims generally at urban, infrastructure and social regeneration of the Quartiere 2, moreover, it responds through articulated specific works to the critical complexity of the area. (1 and 4).

INCREDIBLE EDIBLE (or "Incroyables Comestibles" in French) is an experiment of social innovation: the volunteers of the movement cultivate small vegetable gardens scattered in the cities and the countryside and make their products available free of charge (Ref. 1). This, the first intervention, took place in front of the "Epicerie du Coing" where volunteers planted several vegetables, flowers and plants (Ref. 2).

A new park was created through funding from the ERDF, as part of initiative “Building a Green and Accessible Urban Environment in Plovdiv”. The aim of the project was to provide a place for recreation and to help minimize the density of grey infrastructure in the central part of the city. Activities involved planting trees, as well as many shrubs and flowers. (Ref. 1)

Four hackberry trees were planted in the courtyard of the social center "La Grande Bastide". Children were involved with the support of the association "Aux Actes Citoyens" (in english"Act Citizens"). The planting of the 4 trees by the children was done with the support of animators/leaders (who work at the Social Center and animate diverse activities at the center), Karine Lurcin, president of the association "Aux Acts Citizens" as well as several members of the association. (Ref. 1). The Social Center of the "Grande Bastide"(non-governmental organization) was behind the idea, stating that: "It is the idea of ​​the center to have the children do the planting. We will surely be inspired by it for future actions", and, "from today, [the children] will always associate the earth with a particular and positive emotion: pleasure" (Ref. 1).

The revitalization of the Saski Garden in Lublin in 2013 restored this space of local heritage historic character and cultural significance. Revitalization works included: cleaning and maintenance of existing trees and plants, planting extensive greenery, ICCTV and open access to wi-fi in the area of a renovated amphitheatre, revitalization of walking paths and ponds, small architectural elements like benches and a playground, and rainwater sewage system and a fountain [1,3,7].

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) Cymru’s Giving Nature a Home in Cardiff aims to engage thousands of children, their families, and local communities with Cardiff’s wildlife, enabling them to take action for nature (ref 9). To do this, the project provides free outreach sessions in nurseries, early-years settings/schools, and primary schools across Cardiff to help children discover the wildlife in their school grounds. To reach families, nature-based activities are held. Finally, the project supports communities to help improve and manage pollinator-friendly Urban Buzz sites across the city (ref 9).