Submission of monitoring data (citizen observation)

A number of studies were carried out since 1984 to determine a suitable flood prevention scheme for the White Cart Water and its tributary to provide protection up to the 1 in 200 years event (corresponding to protection up to 1 in 100 years event by 2050s, according to considered climate change projections). In 2002 the development of the scheme began with the help of consulting engineers. The resulting White Cart Water Flood Prevention Scheme, the largest flood protection scheme in Scotland, was published in November 2004 and approved by the Scottish Government in 2006 (Ref 1). Phases 1 and 2 of the White Cart Water Flood Prevention Scheme were completed by late 2011 as part of Glasgow City Council's strategy, working with other key stakeholders, to reduce flood risk to residents and businesses in the south side of Glasgow. In 2017, Glasgow City Council secured funding to enable the completion of the third and final phase of the scheme. This phase involves the construction of 9 sections of flood defence - a combination of flood defence walls and embankments which will provide direct flood defence along sections of both the White Cart Water and Auldhouse Burn. Through 2017 the project team has been finalising the design and undertaking surveys etc. The project is currently ongoing (Ref 3).

The historical canal that was disconnected by a road in the 1970s is currently being restored by the municipality, creating a lively atmosphere allowing for water recreation, a boulevard and green spaces (ref. 1). A small element of this restoration is the addition of green elements by a citizen group, which entails improving ecological, aesthetic and historical quality of the canal by implementing eco-friendly riverbanks, green connecting zones and floating vegetation islands (ref. 3,9,11,12).

"This 26-hectare park, the largest in Clermont-Ferrand, offers a privileged view of the city. Several wooded areas serve as shelters for permanent and passing wildlife. For the last two years, gardeners in the park have no longer used pesticides to maintain Montjuzet Park, the effects are already measurable on the enrichment of flora and fauna." "During the development of the Parc Montjuzet, the choice was made to keep 9 hectares without intervention. These hectares could be a source of some ecological richness. Hives have been established near this area since 2009." (Ref. 1) This park has the Refuge LPO label. (Ref 2)

With an area of ​1.7 hectares, "Jardim da Cerca da Graça" (Graça garden) is the largest public green area in the historical area (Ref. 4). It's a green space located inside the fence (cerca) of the old convent of Graça, building previously occupied by the Republican National Guard. The garden was created from the requalification of part of the fence and its opening to the public, also has a function of passage, with new green spaces: a central lawn, a picnic area and an orchard. There is also a kiosk with a terrace and a children's playground (Ref. 2).

The project has been implemented in a derelict and dumping site. It includes the creation of a community food garden (Ref 2). The locals are enjoying good quality foods with a green space inside the city centre. Today this area is a vibrant community vegetable growing garden comprising five 17ft raised growing beds; a 20ft polytunnel; a 16.5ft greenhouse (made from recycled 2lt plastic bottles) and a tool shed (Ref 2). The place is overlooked by 120 homes and is contributing to the urban green space as well as local food and market creation (Ref 2)

The Morningside Park is classified within the Edinburgh Public Parks and Gardens Strategy as a “Community Park”. This is a small, pleasant, elongated park area with tennis court, multi-sport area, grass areas and tarred pathways that make the Park an attractive facility for children, young people, adults and senior citizens. The park provides an essential green space in the heart of Morningside with a design which lends itself to a range of activities. The layout of the park provides healthy and safe routes between linked road networks along tree-lined paths. (ref. 1)

"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).

In Frankfurt, the "Gallus Garden" is a community garden built in 2016, which not only impresses with its 1000 m2 size but also reflects the cultural diversity in the district (4). The garden was initiated by the Kinder im Zentrum Gallus association in collaboration with the Gallus neighbourhood management with the help of many sponsors and donors such as the Open Space Office and Deutsche Bank (4). The garden consists of two areas with raised bed for families, kindergarten groups and individuals to cultivate their food there, while a third area is for community events with fruit trees. The aim of the Gallus Garden is to create a community place where old and new residents of the area get together, can share knowledge and spend time in nature (4,8).

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 Paul Verlaine Garden received the "EcoJardin"(Eco-Garden) label in 2014 (Ref. 2). The EcoJardin repository is intended to be a methodological tool to guide good practices for gardeners and managers of green spaces (Ref. 6)."This garden is labeled as "Tourisme et Handicap". Work has been done so that this place takes particular account of the accessibility to the people with reduced mobility and the visually impaired. The Jardin Paul Garden is a succession of environments and vegetation architectures" (Ref. 1). At the entrance of the park, there is a playground, a garden of le Petit Poucet, and further the forest of birches, vegetable garden and the garden of tall grasses (Ref. 1).