1. General information Location and description of the intervention City or FUA Dublin (FUA) Region Europe Short description of the intervention Airfield Estate, based in Dundrum, South County Dublin, is a dedicated sustainable food hub and Dublin’s only working urban farm and gardens. The 38-acre site, originally owned by the Overend family, attracts over 120,000 visitors for a fun day out including families, garden enthusiasts, schools, weddings and businesses. The community garden at Airfield Estate is based on a partnership between the Estate and Toast corporation, a digital technology platform built for restaurants with an office in Dublin. The community garden was created to produce sustainable fruit and vegetables while also offering opportunities for people to learn about environmentally-friendly food production, empowering them to make more informed food choices. The Toast.org Community Garden at Airfield Estate will be a resource centre for education on nutrition, food sovereignty, seed saving, biodiversity, conservation, and resource management, supporting Toast.org’s mission to enrich the food experience for all. The community garden will also support Airfield Estate’s ambition to be Dublin’s sustainable food hub and help bring Dublin on its journey to be known as a world-leading sustainable food city (2, 3). The grounds will be accessible to everyone, from the local community and vulnerable groups to corporate employees, and the space will host horticulture talks and workshops on various topics. The partnership between Toast.org and Airfield Estate began in 2021 when some of Toast’s Dublin-based employees volunteered with the charity. The launch of the community garden is one of several ways Toast.org will support Airfield Estate throughout 2023. (2) Website of the intervention https://www.airfield.ie/communitygarden/ Principal problems Land use and Socio-economic change Agriculture/ crop production Rapid urbanization Health, Well-being and Social cohesion Inadequate access to recreational opportunities Disconnection from nature Implementation area characterization Climate Temperate ( Humid subtropical, Hot-summer Mediterranean, Warm-summer Mediterranean, Warm-temperate with dry winter) Ecosystem Urban or built environment Address Overend Ave, Drummartin Dublin Ireland Location The NBS is situated in an area, with clear delineation of boundaries and a specific shape (polygon). The NBS project can also have more than one area location (more than one polygon, situated close by). Area boundary (map-based) NBS area image Source of NBS area image https://www.google.com/maps/place/Airfield+Gardens/@53.2882325,-6.2340176,276m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m6!3m5!1s0x486709be8fcac9f9:0x44138fdfdb8e1ee7!8m2!3d53.2882461!4d-6.2345219!16s%2Fg%2F11rzs32thx!5m1!1e4?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MDkxOC4xIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D Area description Urban (main city) Type of area before implementation of the NBS Unknown Timeline of intervention Start date of the intervention (planning process) 2023 Start date of intervention (implementation process) 2023 End date of the intervention ongoing Present stage of the intervention Ongoing 2. Objectives of the intervention Objectives of the intervention Goals of the intervention To learn about food production and gardening. To attract pollinators. To promote biodiversity. To provide opportunities for relaxation, recreation and nature enjoyment . To provide volunteering opportunities. To foster community engagement To involve the local community in decision making, implementation and maintenance (1) Key Priorities Biodiversity (conservation and/or restoration) Social Justice and community Sustainability challenge(s) addressed Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15) Green space creation and/or management Habitat and biodiversity restoration Health and well-being (SDG 3) Creation of opportunities for recreation Inclusive and effective governance (SDG 16) Inclusive governance Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10) Social interaction Environmental education Sense of community and community engagement Sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12) Sustainable production What types of restoration goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention? Genetic-focused What activities are implemented to realize the restoration goals and targets? Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified) Implementation activities and NBS focus Implementation activities Toast.org, in collaboration with Airfield Estate, launched the project with a €50,000 donation to create a community garden. The core volunteer group, "Friends of Airfield," was formed, led by founding members Tracy-Jane Merry, Barbara Hadden, and John O’Sullivan, to organize and manage volunteer efforts. The garden was established at Airfield Estate, Dublin’s only working urban farm, providing a shared space for growing sustainable fruits and vegetables. Toast.org also funded the employment of a Community Garden Coordinator and Craft Gardener to oversee daily operations, maintenance, and educational initiatives. Volunteers were invited through "Friends of Airfield" to participate in gardening and harvesting activities, encouraging broader community engagement. The garden also hosts educational programs, offering workshops on urban gardening, seed saving, biodiversity, and horticulture (1,2). Type of NBS project Creation of new green areas Creation of areas for food production (community gardens, allotments) Knowledge creation and awareness raising Educational and awareness raising programs 3. NBS domains, ES and scale NBS domain and interventions Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented Community gardens and allotments Community gardens Amenities offered by the NBS Unknown Design elements for well-being Visual elements (e.g., expansive views, scenic views, natural light, diverse vegetation) Auditory elements (e.g., birdsong, water features, quiet areas, rustling leaves) Olfactory elements (e.g., floral scents, earthy smells) Tactile elements (e.g., natural materials like wood or stone, exposure to sunlight) Services Expected ecosystem services delivered Provisioning services Food for human consumption (crops, vegetables) Regulating services Pollination Habitat and supporting services Habitats for species Cultural services Recreation Intellectual interactions (scientific and / or educational) Physical and experiential interactions with plants and animals Social and community interactions Scale Spatial scale Micro-scale: District/neighbourhood level Beneficiaries Demographics in implementation area Unknown Socio-economic profile of the area Unknown Communities vulnerable to environmental hazards or climate change impacts Unknown Non-government actors Non-governmental organisation (NGO) / Civil society / Churches Private sector/Corporate/Business Citizens or community groups Primary Beneficiaries Private sector/Corporate/Company Citizens or community groups Marginalized groups Specify primary beneficiaries The primary beneficiaries of the Toast.org Community Garden project include citizens and community groups,, marginalized groups, and the private sector. The garden is designed to be accessible to everyone, providing opportunities for the local community and vulnerable groups, as well as corporate employees, to engage in sustainable food production and education. Airfield Estate is creating the community garden to produce sustainable fruit and vegetables while also offering opportunities for people to learn about environmentally-friendly food production, empowering them to make more informed food choices (3). Marginalized groups Unknown Specify measures taken for vulnerable or marginalized communities Unknown Other beneficiaries Native plant vegetation Ecosystem services (e.g. improved air quality, water purification) 4. Governance and financing Governance Governance arrangements Led by non-government actors Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative Toast.org, the philanthropic arm of Toast, provided a €50,000 donation to fund the garden and employed a Community Garden Coordinator and Craft Gardener. Airfield Estate, a sustainable food hub and urban farm in Dublin, supplied the land, infrastructure, and expertise in sustainable food production, aligning the project with its educational mission. Toast employees contributed through volunteer work, laying the groundwork for the partnership. The local community, including vulnerable groups and corporate employees, will benefit from access to the garden, educational workshops, and sustainable food resources. While no specific government involvement was detailed, Airfield Estate operates as a charitable trust supporting broader sustainability goals. Public visitors, including families, schools, and garden enthusiasts, will also engage with the project through various programs (2). Key actors - initiating organization Private sector/corporate actor/company Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors) Non-government organisation/civil society Citizens or community group Private sector/corporate actor/company Stages of citizen and community engagement On-the-ground implementation Level of citizen and community engagement High Community empowerment or capacity-building initiatives Implementation of educational programs, workshops or trainings Formation of community-led groups responsible for the the implementation, maintenace or monitoring of the project Creation of collaborative decision-making processes that actively involve community members Participatory methods/forms of stakeholder involvement (all stakeholders) Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping) Dissemination of information and education Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting) Co-management/Joint management Citizen oversight (e.g. boards, advisory) Uncommon actors ("Missing actors") Unknown Land owners Private sector or company Policy drivers NBS intervention implemented in response to a Regional Directive/Strategy Unknown NBS intervention implemented in response to a national regulations/strategy/plan Unknown NBS intervention implemented in response to a local regulation/strategy/plan Unknown Mandatory or voluntary intervention Voluntary (spontaneous) Enablers & Barriers Type of enablers Change agents (individual with major role influence on launching) Please provide details (e.g, name of the plan or strategy) for the selected policies or initiatives. The core volunteer group, "Friends of Airfield," was formed, led by founding members Tracy-Jane Merry, Barbara Hadden, and John O’Sullivan, to organize and manage volunteer efforts. Governace and decison-making instruments Educational and knowledge sharing instruments (e.g. science/ living labs, awareness raising campaigns, specific educational programs, green hubs) Arrangements for governance cooperation Formal coordination mechanisms to oversee project implementation and decision-making (e.g., multi-stakeholder steering committees, working groups) Barriers Unknown Financing Total cost €10,000 - €50,000 Please specify total cost (EUR) €50,000 (1) What is/was the Cost/Budget (EUR) of the NBS or green infrastructure elements? €50,000 (1) Source(s) of funding Corporate investment Type of fund(s) used Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities) Non-financial contribution Yes Who provided the non-financial contribution? Citizens (e.g. volunteering) Private sector (businesses, financial institution) Type of non-financial contribution Provision of goods Provision of labour Provision of expertise Co-finance for NBS No Entrepreneurship opportunities No Business models Business models Local stewardship model Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model? Private for-profit actor (e.g. firm, insurer) 5. Evaluation and learning Impacts, benefits Environmental impacts Green space and habitat Reduced biodiversity loss Expected reduced biodiversity loss Increased number of species present Expected increased number of species present Enhanced support of pollination Expected enhanced support of pollination Description of environmental benefits -Reduced biodiversity loss: "Will be a resource centre for education on nutrition, food sovereignty, seed saving, biodiversity, conservation, and resource management." (Ref. 2) -Expected increased number of species present: "Known as Dublin’s only working farm, Airfield Estate is creating the community garden to produce sustainable fruit and vegetables while also offering opportunities for people to learn about environmentally-friendly food production, empowering them to make more informed food choices." -Enhanced support of pollination: "Attract pollinators." (Ref. 1) Economic impacts Increase of green jobs (e.g. paid employment positions) Achieved increase of green jobs (e.g. paid employment positions) Generation of other type of work opportunities (e.g. voluntary, work for rehabilitation) Expected generation of other type of work opportunities (e.g. voluntary, work for rehabilitation) Description of economic benefits -Increase of green jobs (e.g. paid employment positions): "The garden will employ a community garden coordinator and craft gardener." (Ref. 3) -Generation of other type of work opportunities (e.g. voluntary, work for rehabilitation): "Volunteering will be an essential part of bringing a community garden to life." (Ref. 1) Social and cultural impacts Social justice and cohesion Improved social cohesion Expected improved social cohesion Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces Expected increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces Increased sustainability of agriculture practices Expected increased sustainability of agriculture practices Health and wellbeing Gain in activities for recreation and exercise Expected gain in activities for recreation and exercise Education Increased support for education and scientific research Expected increased support for education and scientific research Description of social and cultural benefits -Improved social cohesion: "A shared community space for people to come together and learn about sustainable food production, meet with like-minded people, and get their hands dirty helping in the garden and with the harvest of food crops." (Ref. 1) -Increased sustainability of agriculture practices: "Will be a resource centre for education on nutrition, food sovereignty, seed saving, biodiversity, conservation, and resource management, supporting." (Ref. 3) -Gain in activities for recreation and exercise: "– Enjoy nature and relax; – Get your hands dirty." (Ref. 1) -Increased support for education and scientific research: "Will be a resource centre for education on nutrition, food sovereignty, seed saving, biodiversity, conservation, and resource management, supporting." (Ref. 3) Evidence for use of assessment Presence of an assessment, evaluation and/or monitoring process Unknown Presence of indicators used in reporting No evidence in public records Presence of monitoring/evaluation reports No evidence in public records Availability of a web-based monitoring tool No evidence in public records Name of any specific impact assessment tools Unknown Use of GIS in mapping impacts No evidence in public records Cost-benefit analysis Unknown Transparency Meetings with stakeholders’ representatives Inclusion of diverse stakeholders in project governance processes (e.g. planning, implementation, monitoring, etc.) Community forums for information sharing and encouraging the participation of marginalized groups Justice Community satisfaction Unknown Description of locals satisfaction with the project Unknown Trade-offs & Negative impacts Unknown Emphasis of existing social inequalities or injustices No information reported related to negative social justice-related impacts of the NBS project Measures to prevent gentrification or displacement No initiatives or policies were implemented High-quality & Transformative NBS Multiple impacts delivery (climate, biodiversity, just community) No Goal setting and impacts delivery No, project goals were not set, and benefits were not delivered in all 3 key areas. Reaching original project goals Most of the project goals were achieved Please specify the achievements of the project goals Biodiversity goals: -Reduced biodiversity loss: "Will be a resource centre for education on nutrition, food sovereignty, seed saving, biodiversity, conservation, and resource management." (Ref. 2) -Enhanced support of pollination: "Attract pollinators." (Ref. 1) Social justice and community: -Improved social cohesion: "A shared community space for people to come together and learn about sustainable food production, meet with like-minded people, and get their hands dirty helping in the garden and with the harvest of food crops." (Ref. 1) -Increased sustainability of agriculture practices: "Will be a resource centre for education on nutrition, food sovereignty, seed saving, biodiversity, conservation, and resource management, supporting." (Ref. 3) -Gain in activities for recreation and exercise: "– Enjoy nature and relax; – Get your hands dirty." (Ref. 1) -Increased support for education and scientific research: "Will be a resource centre for education on nutrition, food sovereignty, seed saving, biodiversity, conservation, and resource management, supporting." (Ref. 3) Long-term perspective Unknown: No information about the project's long-term sustainability. Cost-effective solutions Unknown Equitable impacts A. All stakeholders benefit fairly from the project Transformative capacity Social change (e.g. social relationships, networks and dynamics within them) Ecological change (e.g. ecosystem functions and their distribution) Magnitude of change Incremental: shallow; that is, mostly maintaining business-as-usual approaches to adaptation Application of lessons learned Unknown Perception of Environmental Change Unknown 6. Sources References 1. Airfield Estate (n.d.). Community Garden. Airfield Estate, Accessed on September 11, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; 2. Toast (2023). Airfield Estate Launches Sustainable Community Garden With €50,000 Donation From Toast.org. Toast, Accessed on September 11, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; 3. Growtrade (2023). Airfield Estate launches sustainable community garden with €50k donation from Toast.org. Growtrade, [Source link] [Archive]; Comments and notes Public Images Image Sustainable Community Garden from Toast.org Ref. 2 Image Sustainable Community Garden from Toast.org Ref. 2 Image Airfield Estate https://pos.toasttab.com/news/airfield-estate-launches-sustainable-community-garden-toast-org
Image Airfield Estate https://pos.toasttab.com/news/airfield-estate-launches-sustainable-community-garden-toast-org
