1. General information
Location and description of the intervention
City or FUA
Medway
Region
Europe
Native title of the NBS intervention
Painting The Town Green
Short description of the intervention
The 'Painting The Town Green' project worked in urban and suburban areas of Medway, Swale and Thanet. They improved or created green spaces in these areas, adding color and enhancing biodiversity together with locals from many different backgrounds. They specifically worked with schools, nurseries and community groups to improve neglected environments. The project aimed to increase participants' well-being as well as leaving improved spaces for local communities to enjoy (ref. 1).
Address

Medway
United Kingdom

Location
The NBS is a city-wide initiative, the GIS point marks the centre of the city
Type of area before implementation of the NBS
Other
Please specify “other type of area” before implementation of the NBS
'Painting the town green' poject worked with schools, community groups, church groups and the wider public in Strood, Luton and Weeds Wood in Medway, Milton Regis and Sittingbourne in Swale, and Margate in Thanet (Ref. 3)
Website of the intervention
https://www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk/blog/education-and-community-engagement/pa…
Timeline of intervention
Start date of the intervention (planning process)
2014
Start date of intervention (implementation process)
2014
End date of the intervention
2017
Present stage of the intervention
Completed
Goals of the intervention
The project objectives were:
- To improve local green spaces
- To Involve community members in (sub)urban green spaces
- To create settings in which children can learn from the improvement activities
- To increase participants' well-being as well as leaving improved spaces for local communities to enjoy
- To provide rich wildlife habitats
- To connect communities with each other, as well as to wildlife
(ref. 1, 2, 3)
Quantitative targets
Unknown.
Monitoring indicators defined
Unknown.
Sustainability challenge(s) addressed
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Habitat and biodiversity conservation
Green space creation and/or management
Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
Environmental education
Social cohesion
Social interaction
Health and well-being (SDG 3)
Creation of opportunities for recreation
Habitats and biodiversity conservation: What types of conservation goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?
Species-focused
Habitats and biodiversity conservation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets?
Protect and enhance urban habitats
Create new habitats
Protect species
Undertake specific measures to protect species
Means for conservation governance
Raise public awareness
Public engagement
Implementation activities
1. Planting activities, 2. Building structures for biodiversity, 3. Conduct both activities togeter with the local community on organised events (Ref 2, 3)
Type of NBS project
Creation of new green areas
Maintenance and management of urban nature
Protection of natural ecosystems
Knowledge creation and awareness raising
NBS domain and interventions
Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented
Grey infrastructure featuring greens
Green playgrounds and school grounds
Parks and urban forests
Pocket parks/neighbourhood green spaces
Vegetation Type
Flower beds
Garden beds
Please specify how many trees were planted
Unknown
Please specify other amenities offered by the NBS
Bug hotels (Ref. 1)
Amenities offered by the NBS
Benches and drinking water stations
Playgrounds
Viewing and outlook points
Other
Please specify "other marginalized group"
Vulnerable community members (Ref. 1)
Services
Expected ecosystem services delivered
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
Meso-scale: Regional, metropolitan and urban level
Beneficiaries
Primary Beneficiaries
Public sector institution (e.g. school or hospital)
Citizens or community groups
Marginalized groups
Young people and children
Marginalized groups
Other
Please specify other local relevant strategy
The Medway Wildlife Countryside and Open Space Strategy 2008 - 2012 (Ref 3) is a more general plan that includes GI aspects. Educational purposes of green spaces is mentioned (Ref 5) and the Painting the Town Green intervention has predominantly worked with school yards (Ref 1).
Governance
Governance arrangements
Led by non-government actors
Non-government actors
Non-governmental organisation (NGO) / Civil society / Churches
Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative
The project was an initiative from the Kent Wildlife Trust, an independent charity that is connected to the national Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts (Ref 1, 3).
Key actors - initiating organization
Non-government organisation/civil society
Land owners
Other
Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors)
Public sector institution
Non-government organisation/civil society
Citizens or community group
Land owners
Other
Please specify other land owner
'Painting the town green' poject worked with schools, community groups, church groups and the wider public in Strood, Luton and Weeds Wood in Medway, Milton Regis and Sittingbourne in Swale, and Margate in Thanet (Ref. 3)
Participatory methods/forms of community involvement used
Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
Please specify other landowner
'Painting the town green' poject worked with schools, community groups, church groups and the wider public in Strood, Luton and Weeds Wood in Medway, Milton Regis and Sittingbourne in Swale, and Margate in Thanet (Ref. 3)
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
Unknown
Mandatory or voluntary intervention
Voluntary (spontaneous)
Please specify other type of voluntary intervention
Voluntary improvement of green infrastructure (Ref. 1)
Enablers
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS vision/strategy/plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
The multifaceted Painting the Town Green project is part of the Kent Wildlife Trust. The latter has published "A Green Infrastructure Action Plan for the Four Parishes", among which Medway, that emphasizes the importance of learning experiences in and with nature (Ref 4).
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS section/part in a more general plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify the general plan with GI/NBS section
The Medway Wildlife Countryside and Open Space Strategy 2008 - 2012 (Ref 3) is a more general plan that includes GI aspects. Educational purposes of green spaces is mentioned (Ref 5) and the Painting the Town Green intervention has predominantly worked with school yards (Ref 1).
If there is a relevant strategy or plan, please specify the theme / type of the plan.
City specific green space strategy or 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
The project is part of Kent Wildlife Trust, which is part of the nation-wide Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts (Ref 1). Moreover, the project extends across multiple urban areas beyond Medway and thus forms partnerships with various actors for each individual project (E.g. Blossoms Day Nursery) (Ref 2).
Presence of GI / NBS research project - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Subsidies/investment for GI / NBS in the city - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
The project was funded by the Big Lottery for the full three years (Ref 6).
Co-finance for NBS
Yes
Co-financing governance arrangements
Yes
Co-governance arrangement
A fund / grant
Was this co-governance arrangement already in place, or was it set up specifically for this NBS?
Already in place
Financing
Total cost
€100,000 - €500,000
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)
The project was funded by the Big Lottery for the full three years (Ref 6). Kent Wildlife Trust received 343,000 British Pounds for the present 3-year long project (Ref 6).
Source(s) of funding
Other
Please specify other source of funding
Big Lottery Fund that awards funds from the National Lottery (Ref 7).
Type of fund(s) used
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
Urban offsetting model (biodiversity or water)
Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model?
Public actor (e.g. municipality)
Citizens / local communities
Type of innovation
Technological
Infrastructural innovation
Social
Cultural innovation
Please specify technological innovation
Improvement or creation of green infrastructure (Ref 1).
Please specify social innovation
To reconnect people with their local natural environments and to re-establish a sense of community (Ref 3).
Novelty level of the innovation
Unknown
Please specify novelty level of the innovation
Unknown.
Replicability/Transferability
Unknown
Please specify Replicability/Transferability
Unknown.
Impacts, benefits
Environmental impacts
Environmental quality
Improved waste management
Green space and habitat
Increased green space area
Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
Increased number of species present
Enhanced support of pollination
Restoration of derelict areas
Description of environmental benefits
- Transformation of neglected spaces (Ref. 1)
- Planting a wildflower meadow and nectar bar, creating a new path, adding mixed hedging to create habitats for small mammals and birds and making frog-friendly water features, including tub ponds. By the summer, frogs had moved in to the ponds (ref. 1)
- The grounds are now home to colourful planters hung on the low fences, filled with bulbs which will flower in the Spring, and topped with miniature firs and winter pansies; a beehive-shaped compost bin to enable families to bring veg scrapings from home to fill it every day, and for the children to compost their fruit snack peel; a replenished mud kitchen, filled with lovely, tactile fresh compost; a story circle made from recycled logs, some brand new bug hotels, and a refurbished bug hotel, brimming with impressively sized spiders. All of these things provide rich wildlife habitats (ref. 2)
- Natural features are added– minibeast home log piles, trees, long grass, wildflower meadows and edging forests, along with swings and slides (ref. 3)
Economic impacts
Unknown
Description of economic benefits
Unknown
Social and cultural impacts
Social justice and cohesion
Improved access to urban green space
Increased opportunities for social interaction
Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
Health and wellbeing
Improved physical health
Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
Education
Increased support for education and scientific research
Description of social and cultural benefits
- The group started to come up with their own ideas for the space, attended workshops on wildflower meadows, frog-friendly gardening, and hedge planting (ref. 1)
- The project increased participant’s well-being as well as left improved spaces for local communities to enjoy (Ref. 1)
- Where people don’t make eye contact on the school run, they learn to come together over a pile of earth and some plug plants. They build relationships and establish friendships and support networks. Three weeks in, they meet, greet, smile at each other and laugh, joke, and work together. Those relationships have now started to bloom, and as the plants in the hanging troughs, will continue to be nurtured and grow (Ref. 2)
- For seed-bombing, seeds are mixed with clay and compost to form soft, grey lumps. The children lob them on a count of three. Parents, grandparents, neighbors, and carers have joined the children for these sessions, braving the cold for the delight of watching the children learning something new and exciting, and learning a thing or two about nature themselves (ref. 3)
Type of reported impacts
Achieved impacts
Indicators
1. Windowsil boxes, hedges, trees and insect hotels were installed (Ref 1, 2), 2. Relationships among parents that come to the school have bloomed (Ref 2).
Environmental, social and economic impacts
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
Analysis of specific impact categories
Job creation: The NBS created ...
Voluntary work opportunities
Environmental justice: The implementation of the NBS project resulted in ...
Positive distribution of NBS benefits
Improved access to green and/or blue spaces
Negative impacts: Did the project cause any problems or concerns?
No information was found regarding negative impacts of the project
COVID-19 pandemic
This project information was updated on 12 August 2020. No information was available on the current impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on the NBS area.
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
Informal conversations (Ref 2, 3) but no official evaluation is referred to.
Citizens involvement in the analysis of the assessment/evaluation
Unknown
Follow-up to the evaluation / assessment
Unknown
References
Web links relevant to the intervention
Ref 1: Kent Wildlife Trust. (n.d.). Painting the Town Green.
Ref 2: Kend Wildlife Trust. (2016). Blossoms shows the power of painting green.
Ref 3: Kent Wildlife Trust. (2016). Painting the town green.
Ref 6: Kent Wildlife Trust. (2014). £343,000 Lottery cash to ‘paint towns green…
Ref 4: Kent Wildlife Trust. (2010). A green infrastructure action plan for the …
Ref 7: Big Lottery Fund. (n.d.). National Lottery Funded.
List of references
1: Kent Wildlife Trust. (n.d.). Painting the Town Green. Available at: https://www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk/blog/education-and-community-engagement/painting-town-green (Accessed 12 August 2020)
2: Kent Wildlife Trust. (2016). Blossoms shows the power of painting green. Available at: https://www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk/blog/education-and-community-engagement/blossoms-shows-power-painting-green (Accessed 12 August 2020)
3: Kent Wildlife Trust. (2016). Painting the town green. Available at: https://www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk/blog/education-and-community-engagement/painting-town-green-0 (Accessed 12 August 2020)
4: Kent Wildlife Trust. (2010). A green infrastructure action plan for the four parishes. Available at: https://www.fairfieldparishcouncil.gov.uk/plan/Fairfield_GI%20_Plan_final_web.pdf (Accessed 12 August 2020)
5: Medway Council. (2007). Medway Wildlife, Countryside and Open Space Strategy 2008 - 2016- Uploaded in the sources section (Accessed 12 August 2020)
6: Kent Wildlife Trust. (n.d.) Painting the Town Green. Available at: https://www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk/blog/education-and-community-engagement/painting-town-green-1 (Accessed 12 August 2020)
7: Big Lottery Fund. (n.d.). National Lottery Funded. Available at: https://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/ (Accessed 12 August 2020)
Attachments
Attachment Size
Ref 5: Medway Council. (2007). Medway Wildlife, Countryside and Open Space Strategy 2008 - 2016 (6.84 MB) 6.84 MB
Comments and notes
Comments
This intervention was the overarching project of which the "Blossoms Day Nursery Garden" intervention is one example.
Pictures of the NBS
/sites/default/files/nbs/images/blossoms_child_planting.jpg
/sites/default/files/nbs/images/img_1663.jpg
Public Images
Painting the Town Green
Painting the Town Green
Katie Gurdler, retrieved 08/31/2018
Painting the Town Green
Painting the Town Green
Katie Gurdler, retrieved 08/31/2018