Public engagement

Park Sainte-Marie is the second largest park in Nancy (Ref. 8). "The park Sainte-Marie hides varieties of splendid oaks and many other rare plants. It also hosts that annual "Nature in Festivities" event in the first weekend of May which represents the largest plant market in the region (Ref. 2). "This park was awarded the "Tourism and Handicap" labels in 2007 and "Outstanding Garden" in 2010" (Ref. 1). "An old Alsatian House , created for the International Exhibition of the East of France in 1909" is conserved within the park (Ref. 8).

"The desire to integrate trees in the heart of Nancy constitutes a long-standing commitment. The first Charter for Trees of Nancy was signed in 1996. Plant diversity was strengthened and the protection of trees accentuated, in particular thanks to the requirements of the Local Urban Planning. In 2013, the new version of the Charter will make it possible to engage all the actors of urban policy to increase protection of the tree, to be vital to biodiversity and to the quality of the living environment" (Ref. 1). "New legal, urban, ecological and social issues have emerged. The old charter now requires improvements in the face of certain evolutions. It was decided to renew it. This new document is in line with the previous one and faces the new issues of the trees in the city" (Ref. 1, p 9).

Glasgow Green is the largest park in central Glasgow with an area of 55 ha. The Glasgow Green renewal project was planned in order to restore the area from the disrepair and poor aesthetic quality to attractive, extensive open spaces, modern play facilities, spacious winter gardens, and historic people’s palace (Ref 1). The Glasgow Green renewal plan has been devised to restore Glasgow Green (including the People's Palace and Winter Gardens, Fleshers' Haugh and Richmond Park) to its original glory and create an improved visitor attraction. (Ref 3)

The Wetlands uses natural processes for water treatment and involved local communities in the regeneration of the area. The
Wetlands were constructed in 2005 by diverting a small flow of Chellow Dene Beck through a constructed wetland designed to improve the appearance, water quality and biodiversity of the site. It consists of a series of ponds at the lower end of the site that acts together to remove impurities from the water before returning it to the beck further downstream. The creation of wetlands and maintenance is also a part of the larger Bradford beck project. (reference 1) The site is also used as a recreational trail for the local people and tourists (ref 4). As the reservoir is a local recreational centre it also promotes (paid) recreational fishing activities in some designated spots (ref 5).

Ben Rhydding Gravel Pits Nature Reserve has a variety of habitats. The site is largely artificial, originating from former gravel pits. The river gravels were of good quality and represented an important local source for the construction industry. The pits ceased to be worked in 1970’s and flooded. Infill materials - a variety of materials have been used: building rubble, soil and treated sewage residues from the treatment plants. Plant materials and soil from parks, gardens and building sites have added to the bio-diversity. The reserve is owned by Bradford Council and managed by Wharfedale Naturalists Society volunteers. (reference 1) With the support of Natural England, the site was declared a Local Nature Reserve in October 2013. (ref 7).

Bowling Park is a public urban park and the key purpose is to grow fruit, develop wildlife habitats and create sociable urban green space as well as maximise the biodiversity of the site and minimise any adverse impact on the environment. The orchard, along with allotment sites, as a whole is a valuable part of the Green Infrastructure Network in Bradford (ref 1). The orchard is developed on six disused allotment plots adjacent to Bowling Park. In March 2003 the orchard has planted over 40 trees including- 35 varieties of apple, 6 pears and 4 plums (ref2).

This audit, consisting of two parts, maps all green spaces in the Doncaster borough and presents an analysis of the quality and quantity of these areas as subdivided into 88 communities in Doncaster. It aims to better understand the multi-functionality of these spaces as well as what are the leverage points to improve their quality.
The first part of the audit contributes toward the evidence base required for the Local Development Framework (LDF) Sites and Policies Development Plan Document. It will also be a useful reference document complementing Core Strategy policy (CS17) providing green infrastructure. Part two of the green space audit investigated the quality and value of the sites. It allows the council to identify priority green spaces, ascertain their formal and informal intended use and allow the council to make strategic decisions on priorities and long term management. It also looks at community profile areas where provision exceeds the defined standards and investigates if green spaces in these areas are surplus to requirement. (Ref 1 & 5).

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)

In the context of significant cuts to Newcastle City Council's budget, the issue of how best to maintain the green space in the city integrated into, and surrounds, social housing has emerged. A proposal to allow, or promote, the re-wilding of these spaces (e.g. changing turfed areas to wildflower gardens) was discussed in March 2017. The key driver appeared to be the potential to reduce the costs incurred by the council in the maintenance of green spaces around social housing. (1)
During a Naturvation project meeting in March 2017, the potential for contestation around this proposal was discussed and seemed to be considerable (e.g. re-wilded green space might not be considered aesthetically pleasing by residents and might not provide preferred functions such as space to play sports).

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).