1. General information
Location and description of the intervention
City or FUA
Essen
Region
Europe
Native title of the NBS intervention
Haumanngarten
Short description of the intervention
The Haumanngarten is a community garden in Essen founded by the Transition Town movement (Ref. 1). Since May 2015 a mixed group have been growing vegetables, herbs, flowers and berries on a former playground. Fellow gardeners with and without knowledge of gardening participate in the garden (Ref. 2).
Address

Gemeinschaftsgarten Haumanngarten, Pelmanstraße
45131 Essen
Germany

Location
Point location, which indicates where the NBS takes place
Total area
300.00m²
NBS area
300.00m²
Type of area before implementation of the NBS
Residential
Other
Please specify “other type of area” before implementation of the NBS
Playground (Ref. 1).
Website of the intervention
http://www.gemeinschaftsgartenessen.wordpress.com
Timeline of intervention
Start date of the intervention (planning process)
2006
Start date of intervention (implementation process)
2012
End date of the intervention
2015
Present stage of the intervention
Ongoing
Goals of the intervention
1. Create a space for public life in the city (Ref. 1)
2. Change the existing relations between public space and the urban population (Ref. 1)
3. Create a green and attractive living environment (Ref. 1)
4. Increase the quality of life in the neighborhood (Ref. 1)
5. Provide space for recreation and health (Ref. 1)
6. Allow all urban residents to encounter and participate in the urban development (Ref. 1)
7. Create a more positive image of a district (Ref. 1)
8. Soil protection, soil formation (Ref. 1)
9. Increase in biodiversity (Ref. 1)
10. Food production/Provide people even with a low income with fresh vegetables (Ref. 1)
11. Contribute to the temperature reduction in the city (Ref. 1)
Quantitative targets
Unknown
Monitoring indicators defined
1. New crops and plants planted (Ref. 1)
2. Square meters of new green space (Ref. 1)
3. Cooling performance of the garden (Ref. 1)
Sustainability challenge(s) addressed
Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
Climate change adaptation
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Habitat and biodiversity conservation
Green space creation and/or management
Environmental quality
Soil quality improvement
Regeneration, land-use and urban development
Promote natural styles of landscape design for urban development
Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
Environmental education
Social interaction
Health and well-being (SDG 3)
Creation of opportunities for recreation
Sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12)
Sustainable consumption
Sustainable production
Climate change adaptation: What were the goals of the NBS?
Reduce the impacts of climate risks events on urban places and communities
Climate change adaptation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets?
Increase or improve urban vegetation cover to help reduce outdoor temperature
Create or improve outdoor spaces to help people escape from urban heat
Habitats and biodiversity conservation: What types of conservation goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?
Ecosystem-focused
Habitats and biodiversity conservation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets?
Protect and enhance urban habitats
Create new habitats
Implementation activities
300 m2 of land were allocated to a community garden movement in Essen (Ref. 1)
Type of NBS project
Creation of new green areas
NBS domain and interventions
Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented
Community gardens and allotments
Community gardens
Please specify the number of plots or allotment gardens
Unknown
Vegetation Type
Garden beds
Amenities offered by the NBS
Benches and drinking water stations
Services
Expected ecosystem services delivered
Provisioning services
Food for human consumption (crops, vegetables)
Regulating services
Local climate regulation (temperature reduction)
Habitat and supporting services
Habitats for species
Maintenance of genetic diversity
Cultural services
Recreation
Other
Please specify "other cultural service"
Community building (1)
Scale
Spatial scale
Sub-microscale: Street scale (including buildings)
Beneficiaries
Primary Beneficiaries
Non-government organisation/Civil Society
Citizens or community groups
Marginalized groups
Governance
Governance arrangements
Co-governance with government and non-government actors
Non-government actors
Citizens or community groups
Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative
The civil community "Gemeinschaftsgarten Essen" are the initiators of the project (Ref. 2). The use of the areas as community gardens is done in consultation with the responsible department "Green and Gruga" of the city of Essen and on the basis of a declaration by the community gardeners. In this declaration, they undertake an ecologically oriented method of cultivation and to return the areas to their original state when the garden project is terminated (Ref. 1).
Key actors - initiating organization
Citizens or community group
Land owners
Public space owned by the city
Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors)
Regional government
Local government/municipality
Non-government organisation/civil society
Citizens or community group
Land owners
Public space owned by the city
Participatory methods/forms of community involvement used
Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)
Crowd-sourcing/Crowd-funding/Participatory budget
Dissemination of information and education
Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
Co-management/Joint management
Citizen oversight (e.g. boards, advisory)
Policy drivers
NBS intervention implemented in response to an 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
Yes
Please specify the "local regulation/strategy/plan"
1. The project is developed in cooperation with the local government program "Transition Town Essen" (Ref. 1).
2. the permit for the usage of the land was obtained from the city of Essen (Ref. 1).
Mandatory or voluntary intervention
Voluntary (spontaneous)
Enablers
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS vision/strategy/plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
In the action guide "Urban Green - Concepts and Instruments" (2014) of the Ministry of Building, Housing, Urban Development and Transport of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, the importance of urban green spaces is presented in detail (Ref. 1). The guide is mentioned in relation to the Haumann gardening project.
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS section/part in a more general plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
If there is a relevant strategy or plan, please specify the theme / type of the plan.
Municipal / city level environmental plan or programme
Presence of city network or regional partnerships focused on NBS - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
BUND: Friends of the Earth Germany’s is a federation of existing regional groups, members and volunteers in local and district groups to protect and conserve nature. Together they plant hedges, create ponds, take care of protected areas and fight for the preservation of valuable natural areas (Ref. 3). The group supports the Haumann Park project.
Presence of GI / NBS research project - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
Bläser, K., Danielzyk, R., Fox-Kämper, R., Funke, L., Rawa, M., Sondermann, M. (2013) Urbanes Grün in der integrierten Stadtentwicklung. Strategien, Projekte, Instrumente (Urban Green in integrated urban development. Strategies, Projects, Instruments. Ministerium für Bauen, Wohnen, Stadtentwicklung und Verkehr des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen (Eds.) Düsseldorf.
Subsidies/investment for GI / NBS in the city - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
The soil for the cultivation of plants and gardening accessories were provided by the city of Essen (Ref. 1). Gardening beds and unseals were financed by the state of NRW (the Ministry of the Environment) and the city of Essen (Ref. 2). The project also received funding by winning the Essener Umweltpreis (Essen Environmental Prize) (Ref. 1).
Co-finance for NBS
Yes
Co-financing governance arrangements
Unknown
Was this co-governance arrangement already in place, or was it set up specifically for this NBS?
Unknown
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
What is/was the Cost/Budget (EUR) of the NBS or green infrastructure elements?
Unknown
What are the total amount of expected annual maintenance costs?
Unknown
What is the expected annual maintenance costs of the NBS or GI elements?
Unknown
Please specify cost savings
Unknown
Please specify total cost (EUR)
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
Public regional budget
Public local authority budget
Crowdfunding
Other
Please specify other source of funding
Essener Umweltpreis (Essen Environmental Prize) (Ref. 1).
Type of fund(s) used
Earmarked public budget
Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Yes
Type of non-financial contribution
Provision of land
Provision of labour
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
Public authorities (e.g. land, utility services)
Citizens (e.g. volunteering)
Business models
Local stewardship model
Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model?
Citizens / local communities
Type of innovation
Social
Governance innovation
Please specify social innovation
A community garden "Haumann Park" is a space for local production of food and goods, local possibilities for repair and conversion and the support of social life and community. In order to support this kind of social network, the project requires the cooperation of non-governmental players and the government. The initiative group of "Transition Town Essen" follows the principles of a post-growth society and plays an important role enhancing a green civil movement. On the contrary, the urban planning regulations and local government interests are defining the development of spatial structures in the city. The collaboration of these players is of prime importance and creates unique governance scheme (Ref. 8).
Novelty level of the innovation
The innovation is copied/derived from previous initiative(s) with substantial adaptation
Please specify novelty level of the innovation
The NBS is a part of the transnational Transition Cities movement (Ref. 1). Transition Cities movement derives the experience from Transition Town Totnes (TTT), a community-led and run local charity in Totnes, England, that exists to strengthen the local economy, reduce our environmental impact, and build our resilience for a future with less cheap energy and a changing climate.
Replicability/Transferability
Unknown
Please specify Replicability/Transferability
Unknown
Impacts, benefits
Environmental impacts
Climate change
Lowered local temperature
Green space and habitat
Increased green space area
Description of environmental benefits
Climate change:
-Lowered local temperature: the increase in vegetation is intended to contribute to the temperature reduction in the city (Ref. 1).

Green space and habitat:
-Increased green space area: 300 m^2 in green space on a former playground (Ref. 2).
Economic impacts
Increase in agricultural production (for profit or not)
Description of economic benefits
-Increase in agricultural production (for profit or not): Since the beginning of May 2015, the first plantlets have thrived. They have mainly cultivated plants, herbs and native flowering plants (Ref. 6). Vegetables, fruits, flowers, herbs (Ref. 1).
Social and cultural impacts
Social justice and cohesion
Increased opportunities for social interaction
Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
Increased access to healthy/affordable food
Increased sustainability of agriculture practices
Health and wellbeing
Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
Education
Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
Description of social and cultural benefits
Social justice and cohesion:
-Increased opportunities for social interaction: "The garden is a place of become social togetherness" (Ref. 1). The community of gardening was built up on the basis of the Haumann Park (Ref. 2)
-Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces: "Since May 2015 we - a mixed group - have been growing vegetables, herbs, berries, perennials and flowers on a former playground. Fellow gardeners with and without knowledge of gardening are always welcome" (Ref. 2).
-Increased access to healthy/affordable food: Vegetables, fruits, flowers, herbs (Ref. 1).
-Improvement of sustainable agriculture practices: Since the beginning of May 2015, the first plantlets have thrived. They have mainly cultivated plants, herbs and native flowering plants (Ref. 6).

Health and wellbeing:
-Gain in activities for recreation and exercise: "Fellow gardeners with and without knowledge of gardening are always welcome" (Ref. 2).

Education:
-Increased knowledge of locals about local nature: "Due to its location, it is used by numerous frequented by passers-by. This is how the Garden continuously in public focus and it comes to numerous conversations between passers-by and community gardens gardening" (Ref. 1).
Type of reported impacts
Expected impacts
Achieved impacts
Indicators
1. New crops and plants planted (Ref. 1)
2. Square meters of new green space (Ref. 1)
3. Cooling performance of the garden (Ref. 1)
Environmental, social and economic impacts
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Regeneration, land-use and urban development
Inclusive and effective governance (SDG 16)
Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
Sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12)
Analysis of specific impact categories
Job creation: The NBS created ...
Voluntary work opportunities
Environmental justice: The implementation of the NBS project resulted in ...
Increased access to healthy food for humans and/or animals
Negative impacts: Did the project cause any problems or concerns?
No information was found regarding negative impacts of the project
COVID-19 pandemic
As of November 6, 2020, in Essen "People are only allowed to meet in public space if they are allowed to stay below the minimum distance according to the CoronaSchVO (see exceptions to the minimum distance above) or if they are expressly allowed to meet according to the CoronaSchVO while observing the minimum distance". Available at: https://www.essen.de/leben/gesundheit/corona_virus/coronavirus_einschraenkungen_oeffentliches_leben.de.html
Methods of impact monitoring
Process of recording NBS impacts
No evidence in public records
Methods used to evaluate the impacts of NBS
Unknown
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
Impact assessment mechanism
Name of any specific impact assessment tools
Unknown
Use of GIS in mapping impacts
No evidence in public records
Citizen involvement
Citizens involvement in assessment/evaluation
Yes
Mode(s) of citizen involvement in evaluation/assessment
Other
Please specify other modes of citizen involvement in evaluation/assessment
Regular community meetings and discussions for evaluation and development of the project (2) for all who is interested.
Citizens involvement in the analysis of the assessment/evaluation
Unknown
Follow-up to the evaluation / assessment
Unknown
References
Web links relevant to the intervention
(2) Gemeinschaftsgarten Essen
(3) Friends of the Earth Germany
(5) Gemeinschaftsgärten in Essen: Vielfalt und Fülle – an zahlreichen weiteren …
(6) Haumanngarten Essen
(7) Broschüre: Gemeinsam gärtnern in NRW
Documents relevant to the intervention
Attachment Size
(1) Gemeinsam gärtnern in der Stadt Praxisbeispiele aus Nordrhein-Westfalen (7.85 MB) 7.85 MB
List of references
1. Ministerium für Klimaschutz, Umwelt, Landwirtschaft, Natur- und Verbraucherschutz des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen (2016). Gemeinsam gärtnern in der Stadt Praxisbeispiele aus Nordrhein-Westfalen. Ministerium für Klimaschutz, Umwelt, Landwirtschaft, Natur- und Verbraucherschutz des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen. (Document attached).
2. GEMEINSCHAFTSGARTEN ESSEN (2017). Gemeinschaftsgarten Essen. Available at: https://gemeinschaftsgartenessen.wordpress.com/?s=haumann (Accessed: November 6, 2020).
3. Friends of the Earth (2017). Friends of the Earth Germany. Available at: http://www.foeeurope.org/germany (Accessed: November 6, 2020).
4. Bläser, K., Danielzyk, R., Fox-Kämper, R., Funke, L., Rawa, M., Sondermann, M. (2013) Urbanes Grün in der integrierten Stadtentwicklung. Strategien, Projekte, Instrumente (Urban Green in integrated urban development. Strategies, Projects, Instruments. Ministerium für Bauen, Wohnen, Stadtentwicklung und Verkehr des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen (Eds.) Düsseldorf. (Website not available in 2020).
5. Wiegel, Susanne (2017). Gemeinschaftsgärten in Essen: Vielfalt und Fülle – an zahlreichen weiteren Orten soll Essen erblühen!. Available at: http://www.lokalkompass.de/essen-kettwig/ratgeber/gemeinschaftsgaerten-in-essen-vielfalt-und-fuelle-an-zahlreichen-weiteren-orten-soll-essen-erbluehen-d588289.html (Accessed: November 6, 2020).
6. Urban Oasen (2017). Haumanngarten Essen. Available at: https://www.urbaneoasen.de/project/haumanngarten-essen/ (Website not available in 2020).
7. Stierand, P. (2016). Broschüre: Gemeinsam gärtnern in NRW. Available at: http://speiseraeume.de/broschuere-gemeinsam-gaertnern-in-nrw/ (Accessed: November 6, 2020).
Comments and notes
Comments
As part of the EU Green Capital 2017, urban gardening in Essen is one of the twelve key areas of action (5).

Ref. 4 is no longer available, but the 2015 version of a report with the same title is available here (as of November 6, 2020): https://www.ils-forschung.de/files_publikationen/pdfs/Urbanes_Gruen.pdf