Voluntary work opportunities

The University of Sheffield has embraced green roof technology for its benefits to the built environment, and to support Sheffield City Council vision of Sheffield as the UK’s green roof capital. Most buildings the University feature intentionally vegetated green roofs and some existing buildings with suitable structures have been retrofitted with green roofs (ref 1). The first instrumented test plot for the green roof was installed on the Mappin Building roof. In 2009, Jessop West building and the Robert Hadfield – Green Roof Centre Demonstration Site are studied for replicating the model (ref 4).

The "Green Play City", a nature experience park on 4,500 sqm exists since 1999. Initiated and administered by the non-profit organization "Wissenschaftsladen" (short WiLa), it combines nature experience and recreation for kids and grown-ups with education about the environment and nature-based design while also serving as a place for social interactions through intercultural events (3,4). The initiative "Raus aus'm Haus" aims at expanding the educational and participatory component of the Green Play City. By closely collaborating with schools and kindergartens on options for related on-site workshops, project days or open-air classrooms will be explored and conceptualized (1).

The Community Supported Agriculture initiative in Bonn (SoLaWi Bonn) is an economically motivated arrangement between consumers, farm businesses and certified gardeners to improve the urban provision of local, organic food. Together they develop a concept for collaboration where the consumer group commits to pay an annual fee to cover all of the farmer's expenses for production (according to individual financial capabilities) and to work placements at the farm per year. In exchange, the customer members of the initiative receive a variety of fresh, seasonal, locally produced vegetables. The farmers profit from financial security and economic stability and the ability to apply environmental friendly agriculture practices without the pressure of the market economy (1,4).

The Agenda working group called "Natural gardens in Wachtberg" aims at the development and promotion of nature-based construction solutions and increased use of local wild plants since 1998. In this pursuit, it managed to acquire land (400 sqm) from the municipality of Berkum and, transform the lawn area into a near-natural garden showcasing nature-based gardening elements with the help of other environmental associations and sponsors (1,2,7). Apart from securing and enhancing local biodiversity, the garden serves as a display of possible elements and solutions of a nature-based garden for interested parties. Moreover, through information boards, workshops and a detailed brochure on implementation guidelines, the project can spark interest and empower local residents to implement such nature-based elements in their own garden (1, 3, 4,7).

Athens' first vertical garden has been installed temporarily at the entrance to the City of Athens administrative building at 22 Liossion St during the city's first green cultural festival, the Green Design Festival in 2008. Such gardens have a positive impact on the environment as the plants trap carbon dioxide, produce oxygen, absorb harmful atmospheric pollution and reduce air temperature in summer, which assists in cooling the building's interior (Ref 1).

The garden was established in 2012 by self-management of the community of Exarcheia. The site is a former parking lot in public land, historically reclaimed by the neighbourhood as a green zone. People occupied the space, designed the park, and constructed it. The former parking lot was owned by the Technical Chamber of Greece (TCG). A weekly assembly manages the site and activities. The aim of the community garden is formative, to show how to grow food, reproduce and collect seeds. The park has encompassed multiple functions in addition to community food-producing garden, such as children's playground, a place for cultural events, gathering and emancipation (Ref 1, 2, 3).

Restructuring a public derelict land into few private vegetable and fruit gardens. The gardeners practice organic gardening making it more sustainable. This provides foods as well as increasing the soil fertility, and reduction of the soil erosion. This also creates some extra vegetable and fruit market in the city. 20 % of the food produced is donated to the food bank. The project is a community project which also helps to bring people together. Started in April 2012 (Ref 1,4). The project is one of the initiatives by the Greek municipalities allotting land to local citizens with the purpose of increasing food security for the underprivileged, educating the younger generation, and providing their citizens with a retreat from city life (Ref 3).

In 2009, the city of Montpellier launched a large census project to valorize its abandoned areas. The study gives guidance on the management of abandoned areas in Montpellier, particularly in connection with environmental education and awareness objectives (Ref. 2). The strategy aims to preserve and promote the natural heritage of Montpellier; promote wastelands as reservoirs of biodiversity, tools for connecting natural spaces; protect and enhance the great green flows accompanying watercourses (biological links and privileged sites for fauna and flora); and develop a network of soft transport throughout the city based on the green network (rivers, agricultural, natural and park areas) (Ref. 4). "The spaces have been classified according to their context, their origin, their potential. This sometimes subjective typology presents a classification of the wasteland and makes it possible to take a particular look on each land. Surfaces of all shapes and sizes fall within this operational classification." Four Experimental projects include: Zenith Friche, Promenade of the Lironde, Pastourelle, Combemale" (Source: uploaded document).

"The Lez is a small Mediterranean river 28.5 km long, born from a karstic exurgence whose supply zone extends north of the source, over more than 150 km2. The “Le Lez” site was proposed in February 2001 because of the presence of several species and natural habitats protected at European level. The designated part concerns the upstream course of the Lez river, its riparian forest and associated agricultural environments. Covering an area of ​​144 hectares, the area stretches over 14 km from the Lez sources in Saint-Clément-de-Rivière to the Concorde bridge, in the town of Montpellier" (Ref. 4). Strong economic and demographic development near Le Lez implies urban pressure on peripheral sectors, particularly north of Montpellier where many residential areas are developing. The river became protected thanks to the "Natura 2000 European network" which aims to reconcile human activities and the conservation of biodiversity on the basis of the main principles of sustainable development (Ref. 4).

The program aims to change gray urban courtyards into friendly places - the green oasis for neighborhood meetings and resting areas. Small project proposals developed by the housing associations for the revitalization/transformation of courtyards from all over the city compete for co-funding (up to 75%) from the city council. Many projects (over 86 by the year 2015) have been funded and implemented since the beginning of the initiative in 2008.(1)(2)