1. General information
Location and description of the intervention
City or FUA
Szczecin
Region
Europe
Native title of the NBS intervention
Społeczny Ogród Kultury przy Trafostacji Sztuki
Short description of the intervention
The project refers to the development of a vacant plot to create a social garden. Activities and plans implemented included: planting greenery, creating flower meadows and flowerbeds, common flowers planting by citizens, common vegetable growing area and a greenhouse, recreational area (hammock, trampolines, field games, sun loungers and sofas for recreation), cultural zone (outdoor cinema, exhibition space), workshop area (for artistic, ecological and sports workshops), canteen area (open-air kitchen, outdoor bar, communal dining space). The garden was open for the public between 2016 and 2018.(1)(4)
Address

ul. Świętego Ducha
70-205 szczecin
Poland

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
POINT (14.556767 53.422981)
POINT (14.557121 53.423096)
POINT (14.557014 53.422614)
POINT (14.55747 53.42279)
NBS area image
Source of NBS area image
https://www.google.pl/maps/place/Trafostacja+Sztuki/@53.42282,14.5565474,103m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x47aa09056a8874b7:0xf1b96c755723e1cc!8m2!3d53.4226122!4d14.5567594?hl=pl&authuser=0
Type of area before implementation of the NBS
Previous derelict area
Residential
Public Greenspace Area
Website of the intervention
https://www.facebook.com/sasiedzkiogrodkultury/
Timeline of intervention
Start date of the intervention (planning process)
2016
Start date of intervention (implementation process)
2016
End date of the intervention
2018
Present stage of the intervention
Completed
Please specify "other" stage of the intervention
The garden was only functioning until 2018.
Goals of the intervention
The project aims at creating a social garden, where citizens can jointly grow vegetables, plant flowers and participate in a number of thematic workshops and cultural events. (1)(4)
Quantitative targets
Unknown
Monitoring indicators defined
Increased access to the green space in the city and participation in the community activities.(1)
Sustainability challenge(s) addressed
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Green space creation and/or management
Regeneration, land-use and urban development
Regulation of built environment
Promote natural styles of landscape design for urban development
Inclusive and effective governance (SDG 16)
Inclusive governance
Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
Social interaction
Health and well-being (SDG 3)
Enabling opportunities for physical activity
Improving mental health
Improving physical health
Creation of opportunities for recreation
Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
Promotion of cultural diversity
Sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12)
Implementation activities
Planting greenery, flower meadow and flowerbeds. Creating a common vegetable growing area and a greenhouse, recreational area (hammock, trampolines, field games, sun loungers and sofas for recreation), cultural zone (outdoor cinema, exhibition space), workshop area (for artistic, ecological and sports workshops), canteen area (open-air kitchen, outdoor bar, communal dining space). Greenery planting, outdoor recreational facilities and planning of the social events have been already implemented.(1)(2)(4)
Type of NBS project
Creation of new green areas
Maintenance and management of urban nature
NBS domain and interventions
Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented
Grey infrastructure featuring greens
Institutional green space
Parks and urban forests
Pocket parks/neighbourhood green spaces
Community gardens and allotments
Allotments
Community gardens
Please specify the number of plots or allotment gardens
Unknown
Vegetation Type
Grass
Flower beds
Garden beds
Please specify other amenities offered by the NBS
recreational area (hammock, trampolines, field games, sun loungers and sofas for recreation), cultural zone (outdoor cinema, exhibition space), workshop area (for artistic, ecological and sports workshops), canteen area (open-air kitchen, outdoor bar, communal dining space).
Amenities offered by the NBS
Playgrounds
Sports areas and equipment
Cultural (museum, concert areas)
Complementing infrastructure (bathrooms, café)
Other
Services
Expected ecosystem services delivered
Provisioning services
Food for human consumption (crops, vegetables)
Cultural services
Aesthetic appreciation
Inspiration for culture, art and design
Recreation
Mental and physical health and wellbeing
Social and community interactions
Scale
Spatial scale
Sub-microscale: Street scale (including buildings)
Beneficiaries
Primary Beneficiaries
Citizens or community groups
Governance
Governance arrangements
Led by non-government actors
Non-government actors
Non-governmental organisation (NGO) / Civil society / Churches
Citizens or community groups
Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative
'Foundation on the Odra river' (Fundacja Na Odrze) received funds in an open competition from an initiative 'Lechstarter' in a partnership with the Urban Forms Foundation [6], for a community project initiated by a local community group. The local community group is implementing the project with the obtained funds [2,3].
Key actors - initiating organization
Non-government organisation/civil society
Citizens or community group
Land owners
Other
Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors)
Non-government organisation/civil society
Private foundation/trust
Citizens or community group
Land owners
No information found
Participatory methods/forms of community involvement used
Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)
Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
Co-management/Joint management
Citizen oversight (e.g. boards, advisory)
Please specify other landowner
Arts center
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"
The initiative mentions that the planned social garden fits well into the newly developed strategy of the Szczecin city: "Szczecin floating garden 2050".(4)
Mandatory or voluntary intervention
Voluntary (spontaneous)
Please specify other type of voluntary intervention
Citizens developed the project proposal and applied for funds for its implementation.
Enablers
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS vision/strategy/plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
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
Szczecin has a Long-term Brand-management Strategy: "Szczecin floating garden 2050"; To quote from the official city's website: "This concept of looking into the future has become the basis for the vision of the city's future and brand – The 2050 Floating Garden project. It all means that Szczecin may offer its dwellers the advantages of a metropolis and at the same time preserve the atmosphere of peacefulness. The city relies on ecology and yachting. Szczecin has to build its floating garden by 2050." The new brand strategy of the city emphasizes respect for the humanity and nature, as "the harmony between the two is particularly significant in the green city which plans its intensive development." [7].
If there is a relevant strategy or plan, please specify the theme / type of the plan.
City specific green space strategy or plan
Water regulation strategy
Presence of city network or regional partnerships focused on NBS - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
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 initiative received funding from the Lechstarter Foundation.(2)(3)
Co-finance for NBS
No
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
€10,000 - €50,000
What is/was the Cost/Budget (EUR) of the NBS or green infrastructure elements?
100 000 PLN (~22 400 EUR)
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)
100.000 PLN (around 24.000 EUR).(2)
Source(s) of funding
Private Foundation/Trust
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
Provision of expertise
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
Citizens (e.g. volunteering)
Business models
Local stewardship model
Vacant space model
Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model?
Private non-for-profit actor (e.g. NGO, foundation)
Citizens / local communities
Type of innovation
Social
Governance innovation
Cultural innovation
Please specify social innovation
Social garden managed by the community.
Novelty level of the innovation
The innovation is copied/derived from previous initiative(s) without substantial adaptation
Please specify novelty level of the innovation
The initiative is one of many social gardens that emerge in the city.
Replicability/Transferability
Unknown
Please specify Replicability/Transferability
Unknown
Impacts, benefits
Environmental impacts
Unknown
Description of environmental benefits
Unknown
Economic impacts
Unknown
Description of economic benefits
Unknown
Social and cultural impacts
Social justice and cohesion
Fair distribution of social, environmental and economic benefits of the NBS project
Improved access to urban green space
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
Cultural heritage and sense of place
Improvement in people’s connection to nature
Education
Increased awareness of NBS and their benefits
Description of social and cultural benefits
The project created an inclusive publicly open space in the city centre, where citizens were encouraged to spend time outdoors and enjoy an organised former neglected space. The project taught the importance and pleasures related to urban gardening and provided a high-quality cultural and educational offer in the garden [3]. Thought the community garden, the project also had a positive impact in access to healthy/affordable food and learning though of sustainable agriculture practices.
Type of reported impacts
Achieved impacts
Indicators
Increased access to the green space in the city and social integration through community activities.(1)
Environmental, social and economic impacts
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Green space creation and/or management
Regeneration, land-use and urban development
Regulation of built environment
Promote natural styles of landscape design for urban development
Inclusive and effective governance (SDG 16)
Inclusive governance
Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
Social interaction
Health and well-being (SDG 3)
Enabling opportunities for physical activity
Creation of opportunities for recreation
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 ...
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
Unknown as of July 2020.
Methods of impact monitoring
Process of recording NBS impacts
No evidence in public records
Methods used to evaluate the impacts of NBS
Interviews
Where can this data be accessed? Please include a link to a report or web-page.
http://radioszczecin.pl/1,340677,&idf=379895
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
Unknown
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 (online article)
Ref.2 (online article)
Ref.3 (website of the donor Foundation)
Ref.4 (online article)
Ref.5 (online article)
List of references
1. Rudnicki, M., (2016) 'Social cultural garden is opened. Beautiful meeting place' ('Sąsiedzki Ogród Kultury otwarty. Piękne miejsce spotkań'), www.gs24.pl, https://gs24.pl/sasiedzki-ogrod-kultury-otwarty-piekne-miejsce-spotkan/ar/10438700 Last accessed July 9 2020
2. Sidorowski, S., 'Szczecin's social gardens. Tthree new will be created until the end of the month' ('Szczecińskie ogrody społeczne. Do końca miesiąca powstaną trzy'), naszemiasto.pl, http://szczecin.naszemiasto.pl/artykul/szczecinskie-ogrody-spoleczne-do-konca-miesiaca-powstana,3797985,artgal,t,id,tm.html Last accessed July 9 2020
3. Official website of the Foundation Lechstarter, http://lechstarter.urbanforms.org/ Last accessed July 6 2017 (Website not available in 2020)
4. Masternak, O., (2016), 'Social cultural garden. This is how Szczecin's city centre might change. Thanks to you!' ('Sąsiedzki Ogród Kultury. Tak może zmienić się centrum Szczecina. Dzięki nam!'), naszemiasto.pl, http://szczecin.naszemiasto.pl/artykul/sasiedzki-ogrod-kultury-tak-moze-zmienic-sie-centrum,3732452,artgal,t,id,tm.html Last accessed July 9 2020
5. Szymanska, A., (2016) 'Social cultural garden is ready' ('Sąsiedzki Ogród Kultury już gotowy'), radioszczecin.pl http://radioszczecin.pl/1,340677,&idf=379895 Last accessed July 9 2020.
6. Urban Forms Foundation. (no date). About. Urban Forms Foundation official website. Available at: https://www.urbanforms.org/foundation/ (Accessed: 09 July 2020).
7. Szczecin 2050 Floating Garden Project. (no date). Szczecin Floating Garden 2050. Project's official website. Available at: https://www.szczecin.eu/en/marka/brand_strategy (Accessed: 09 July 2020).
Interview comments
The founding agency Lechstarter was contacted for additional information and I'm awaiting reply.
Comments and notes
Pictures of the NBS
/sites/default/files/nbs/images/social_garden_1.jpg
/sites/default/files/nbs/images/social_garden_2.jpg
/sites/default/files/nbs/images/social_garden_3.jpg
Public Images
Trafostacja Sztuki
Trafostacja Sztuki
Source: https://gs24.pl/sasiedzki-ogrod-kultury-otwarty-piekne-miejsce-spotkan/ga/10438700/zd/19553034
Trafostacja Sztuki
Trafostacja Sztuki
Source: https://gs24.pl/sasiedzki-ogrod-kultury-otwarty-piekne-miejsce-spotkan/ga/10438700/zd/19553034
Trafostacja Sztuki
Trafostacja Sztuki
Source: https://gs24.pl/sasiedzki-ogrod-kultury-otwarty-piekne-miejsce-spotkan/ga/10438700/zd/19553034