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The Kersentuin (Cherry Garden), an environmentally, socially and economically friendly community in Leidsche Rijn, an urbanization-from-scratch area in the west part of Utrecht, has been founded and developed by the residents themselves. The area is very popular and is seen as an interesting best practice in ideal green neighbourhood developments (ref. 4). It is a sustainable neighbourhood which integrates technical and social sustainability by building sustainable houses and creating public green spaces that promote biodiversity and social cohesion. The main characteristic of the Cherry Garden is the self-management of the green spaces which is achieved by gardening days. The project was innovative at the time of implementation and inspired many other projects (ref. 1).

A former American military base was purchased by a private investor in 2014. Due to this event, the city decided to redevelop the whole area covering 27 ha and to create a development plan for a forward-looking quarter based on an architectural competition. In parallel to the development, information events for the wider public took place. The new quarter will be constructed according to criteria set out by the German Association for Sustainable Construction. Objectives of this plan are also to improve the microclimate, biodiversity, connectivity, social and functional diversity of the district (Ref. 1 and 2). In 2020, construction work had not yet started. Plans are to begin construction in 2024 the earliest and to complete it by 2027. (Ref. 7)

The Hachinger Brook is a natural water body, which level of water is highly influenced by groundwater. Due to the spatial expansion of Munich, sections of the brook were forced into concrete canals and pipes. The idea of restoring the brook into a quasi-natural state had already emerged in the committee of city panning in 1984. The city council of Munich decided in 2014 is to reconstruct the natural state on a 2,6 km stretch of the Hachinger Brook between Kampenwandstraße and Hüllgraben by excavating it and to turn it into a recreational area. In addition to the stream, the former village pond next to the stream is planned to be restored. (Reference 1) Trees and other vegetation will be planted alongside some sections of the brook. (Reference 1, 2). Because of the reluctance of the landowners on the proposed site of the intervention to accept a brook flowing through their property, in 2020, the implementation still hasn’t begun. (Reference 7)

In an effort to improve the Holásecká lakes for both recreation and local natural conditions, the revitalization project has modified areas on the shores of the Holásecké lakes reconstructed culverts between the lakes, and removed the panel which fortified the Opleta and Lávka lakes (Ref. 4). The largest restoration activity includes removal of mud from the lakes (which can be repurposed due to low contamination) for the sake of ecologically restoring the area (Ref. 4). Plans also include improving recreation by installing wooden piers and developing a paved footpath with benches (Ref. 1). The ecological restoration will be important for wildlife, especially birds and amphibians (Ref. 8).

A temporary new pocket park in Bishop Street. "Previously the plot had been boarded off since a 2009 fire led to a row of shops and takeaways being demolished. The park has been created to improve the derelict land on the corner of Bishop Street and Well Street before any future developments and is part of the second phase of city centre improvements following work which included transforming Broadgate and the station to Bull Yard link." (Ref. 1)

The project focuses on the development of a sustainable, social and ecological park that promotes citizen participation (ref. 2), which is one of the largest city parks in the Netherlands. It combines various blue-green infrastructure elements (ref. 1). The park includes recreational facilities, a butterfly garden and special constructions that provide habitat for species. The Máximapark runs largely on volunteers and the citizen participation is the outstanding character of the development of the park (ref. 2).

La Tiretaine is a river in Clermont-Ferrand which, in the past, was harnessed to run underground in order to address hygiene concerns and create more land for construction and industrial purposes (Ref. 5). Rehabilitation efforts have been made throughout the city in order to 'renature' the river. Efforts include the creation of a small park along the river near the school Saint-Alyre in 2008 (Ref. 1) as well as a vision to develop a park surrounding a section of the river by 2026 (Ref. 4).

The project was born with the idea of solving the huge debate around the creation of a city park that connects different parts of the city. The area close to the railway will be regenerated thanks to an above-ground park. This solution will allow to have a new green space in the city, and an additional panoramic view that will be experienced thanks to a new cycling path. In this way the whole area that surrounds the rails of the central station will be regenerated, providing at the same time an attempt to mend the urban and social fabric. (Ref.1.)

Food for Good is a community garden in which citizens and disadvantaged groups work together to grow healthy crops in a sustainable way (ref. 1,5,6,7). Thereby, it promotes social cohesion in the neighbourhood and sustainable agriculture. It also contributes to social equity as crops are grown for the food bank which provides food for homeless and low-income citizens. Food is also sold to local people and a 'social' restaurant (ref, 5-7).

Isar River had been regulated at the end of the 19th century by forcing the river into a canal-type bed with embankments. This regulation made a negative impact on the flow velocity of the river, on its temperature balance, and increased the risk of flooding. The goal of the recent development was to restore the river's natural character on an 8-kilometre-long section of the river and to create a semi-natural riverside. (Reference 1, 2) This was considered especially important because the effects of climate change have already increased the frequency of heavy rain events and major floods. (Reference 3) The new concept leaves space for the river to shape and change its bed with every flood. Further aims of the project were to increase biodiversity and recreational quality.