Ongoing

Tree heritage is an essential component of the urban environment in Clermont Ferrand. The city has a special plan for conserving the trees, proposing a tree charter (Ref 6) and made a major effort to extend its tree heritage. Different actions are undertaken by the city's council for conserving and planting trees around the city. For instance, the tramway has integrated the plantation of 1,400 trees and 140,000 shrubs (Ref. 1). In 2019 the city solicited a preliminary study on metropolitan trees for the development of a metropolitan tree charter (Ref 7).

The Kriegsstraße is a large street in the centre of Karlsruhe which experienced traffic problems for a long time. Since 2005 there have been plans to redevelop the area into a multifunctional public space area to be used by cars, trams bicycles and pedestrians. Due to financing problems, the solution has been put on hold for a long time but in 2015 construction work of the so-called “combined solution” project has finally started. The plan is to renovate the Kriegsstraße, including the tram tracks above the surface and to create an underground tunnel for cars. The surface above the tunnel will be greened through the implementation of an alley of trees, green bicycle lanes and pedestrian paths as well as greened tram routes (Ref. 1). In August 2020, the implementation of the project is nearing completion and is expected to be finished in 2021 (Ref. 9, 10)

"The Coventry Water Vole Project aims to improve Coventry’s waterways and riverside habitat for water voles." "Water voles are Britain's most severely threatened mammal. Numbers have declined by as much as 95% in Warwickshire in recent years due to threats such as habitat loss, habitat fragmentation, poisoning, and predation.” "The Coventry Water Vole Project has focused on the control of the non-native and highly invasive plant Himalayan balsam, followed by replanting some riverside areas with native 'water vole friendly' wetland plants." (Ref. 1)

The project relating to the waterfront of San Girolamo di Bari is an important piece of the mosaic that provides a new design for the entire city waterfront, from North to South: Santo Spirito, Palese, (precisely) San Girolamo, the connection between Bread and Tomato and Torre Quetta, temporary uses on the San Giorgio waterfront, up to the redevelopment of the South promenade. The project which is almost completed, regenerated the seaside part of Bari, making the seaside accessible and link the city with the coastal area by creating a multi-functional space where playgrounds, a cycling path and green open spaces were built to enhance the liveability of the area. In this way, what was previously considered just as an economic and working part of the city became a new center of social interaction by creating a new institutional green space. (Ref.1, Ref.6).

The park has been upgraded to include newly planted trees and shrubs, a meadow, children playgrounds, sitting areas for adult visitors, a wooden footbridge, and a water retention pond which collects rainwater from the roofs of nearby houses. The aim of the project was to establish and restore near-natural vegetation in the urbanized area, enhance biodiversity at the site, handle rainwater in a smart way, and provide a place for recreation (Ref. 2; Ref. 3; Ref 4). Additional restorations have included the creation of barbecue areas for gathering and cooking, and events are hosted at the space as well (Ref 8). Through voting, wider park expansions have also been approved (Ref 9).

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).

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).

Little France Park is the city’s newest park reclaiming unmanaged grassland for the local community and carving out a green corridor from the city centre to Midlothian. It will establish a new corridor for wildlife whilst offering a network of paths, cycleways spread across 45 hectares. ELGT have submitted a Pre Application Notice to create new public parkland. It will establish a new corridor for wildlife whilst offering a network of paths, cycleways spread across 45 hectares. It is expected to provide a valuable green asset to new and existing communities. The parkland will be an important part of the green network with enhanced biodiversity. The existing landscape features will be enhanced, including wetland habitats, woodland planting, meadow grassland and space for events or informal sports. It is an opportunity to create active travel routes integrated with green infrastructure. The fully realized Little France Park will include 3 parkland areas, which together create habitat and species-rich areas. The project is due in late 2020. (ref 1, 2, 5, 6)