Maintenance and management of urban nature

The Forest of Belfast is an imaginative label for urban tree initiative launched in the 1990s with the aim of conserving and managing existing trees, increasing the planting of suitable trees, particularly in places of public access like parks, and in promoting an interest in and an appreciation of trees and forestry(Ref 3). The project was officially launched in June 1992 (Ref 1). It is active throughout the urban area of Greater Belfast, including Belfast City. It brings together partners from the statutory sector, voluntary groups, businesses, and individual residents who become volunteer Tree Wardens. It shows how urban forestry can forge partnerships between central and local government, environmental organizations and city dwellers. (Ref 1). Forest of Belfast initiative was wound up towards the end of 2010 (Ref 6).

In 2014, the municipality of Győr initiated a large-scale tree-planting programme which has planted approximately 1000 trees each year since it was started (Reference 6). As part of the programme, old trees that have become dangerous, withered or have outgrown their base are cut down, but much more are planted each year than the ones that are removed. (Reference 1). In the course of the program, mostly manna ash, European dwarf cherry, Norway maple, European hornbeam, large-leaved linden, London plane, and chestnut trees are planted, taking into account the local conditions. About 200 shrubs and thousands of flowers are planted each year. Flower seedlings have also been donated to citizens, with the goal of involving citizens in green space creation (Reference 6). An addition to the programme started on 1 July 2020 (Reference 6) and since then, after every child born in Győr, the parents can claim a tree that they can plant on their own or with the company Győr-Szol Zrt.

The Sowe Valley Project was a community-based project focusing on rivers restoration. It aimed to link the local community with the Sowe River Valley and to improve the valley’s biodiversity and habitats for the benefits of people and wildlife. (Ref. 2, 6, 11-13)

The Royal Palace of Naples (Palazzo Reale di Napoli) is a palace, museum, and historical tourist destination located in central Naples, southern Italy. In 2016, the rooftop gardens of the Palace were part of the project to renew the historical royal palace to reopen the green space on the top of the Palazzo. The external walls of the internal part have been covered by flowers and plants. In addition, new services have been provided, such as bar, restaurants, recreation areas, providing at the same time economic opportunities and new jobs. (Ref.1.)

“The Environment and Me project (TEaM) is operated by Warwickshire Wildlife Trust and CWMind (Coventry and Warwickshire Mind) and supported by Coventry City Council. (Ref. 1) It is an ecotherapy-based project which aims to enhance mental health and wellbeing. (Ref. 1, Ref. 2). It provides opportunities for outdoor activities at allotment sites, gardens, woodlands, parks and nature reserves – giving people some much-needed breathing space in the fresh air, whilst learning new skills, meeting new people and giving back to nature.” (Ref. 1)

This is a project of regeneration of an abandoned small garden in the centre of Napoli, with the plantation of plants typical of the Mediterranean area. The new 400 sqm garden was developed by the Servizio Arredo Urbano of the city of Napoli. The regeneration process was persistently asked by the citizens of the surrounding area which were looking for an improvement of the area. In addition, the garden hosts a new playground for kids, and by consequence, it is considered a new spot for recreational activities. (Ref.1.)

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 Fechenheimer Mainbogen is the largest undeveloped floodplain area in Frankfurt am Main and a special recreational area in the Frankfurt Green Belt Internal link. Today, the Main Arch is mainly used for agriculture, but still contains numerous relics of a typical floodplain landscape, such as smaller floodplain trees, meadows and wet bank areas. Since 2015, the curve of the Main has been transformed back into a near-natural meadow landscape with water, alluvial forests and meadows in several steps. Animals and plants are given new valuable habitats and places of retreat, and people are given attractive recreational spaces in nature (10).

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 district will initially incorporate 516 new low carbon homes alongside manufacturing, leisure, offices and climate-resilient public realm. (2) The overall approach to landscaping, amenity space and public realm in the scheme is to make use of sustainable drainage techniques, enhance the biodiversity value of the River Aire corridor, provide an appropriate level of landscaped publicly accessible open space, and contribute positively to the overall distinctive sense of place at the site. (12)