Health and well-being (SDG 3)

The garden was designed by landscapers Michèle Orliac and Miquel Battle and realized for a cost of 3 million euros. This "new green lung", as presented by the City Hall of Toulouse, is part of a major urban project that provides for the creation of 500 housing units in the Niel District (Ref. 1). The project involved creating vegetation enmeshed benches (Ref. 7) and using permeable flooring materials that prevent water loss and reduce the potential of flooding (Ref. 8).

The construction of a new main bus station inaugurated in 2014, is part of a desire to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to encourage users to favor bus routes (Ref. 1). Part of this construction project, a vegetal wall of 210 meters long and 8 meters high has been implemented in order to act on noise (-20 decibels) and visual pollution, and improve air quality. It will be the largest public vegetal wall in France. (Ref. 4, page 26)

Derelict flats are replaced by an oasis (including flowers and fine art) on the Aysgarth estate, creating a "long-waited community haven". A community garden was officially opened to "create an area of much-needed green space". (Ref. 1) The project aimed to create a garden that the whole community could enjoy. (Ref. 1)

The project introduces an urban park in the place of a formerly derelict area and a landfill, located by the river valley of Bystrzyca. The park would increase access to the green recreational area in the city, which is a part of a longer-term plan to make the river’s banks citizen-friendly and easily accessible. The initiative includes: clearing the land and planting greenery, construction of the 'sensory' garden for the youngest users, building walking and cycling paths and infrastructure adjusted to people with disabilities, as well as installation of the nesting boxes, feeders and insect hotels [1].

Community Garden Trompenburg was initiated by one citizen who mobilized his neighbours to create a garden in which organic crops can grow. The garden promotes social cohesion and equity within the neighbourhood because citizens, as well as disadvantaged groups and children, work together on the maintenance of the garden. Furthermore, sustainable food production is promoted and taught to interested parties in the form of workshops. (1,3,7)

"Anglers Country Park (and a local nature reserve) is dominated by a lake, surrounded by grassland, woodland and a wetland area." "This originally farmed landscape was dramatically changed when it became one of the deepest opencast mines in Europe, reaching a depth of 250 feet." Restoration work began after the mine closed, creating the country park. (Ref. 1, 2)

After its abandonment by the British military in 2012, the development of a new utilization concept and plan for the former military base in Gremmendorf was encouraged by the city’s planning department. Intensive citizen participation efforts were identified and ideas conceptualized, followed by an architectural competition based on which the spatial development plan was elaborated. The plan, which is currently being developed further by the winning architecture bureaus in coordination with the spatial development authority, intends the development of an attractive living quarter as a "garden town" with several green and sustainable drainage elements (Ref. 1 and 5).

B.Bylon Roof Park is a green park on top of the B.Amsterdam building which provides a healthy environment for employees and citizens of the neighbourhood. The park contains a vegetable garden, recreational facilities, meeting spots, sport facilities, a herb garden, a water basin, fruit trees, chickens and a restaurant (1,2,5,8). The roof park stores and uses storm water and an organic circular decomposing system provides plant nutrients. (4,7).

PopinnPark claimed to be the first indoor park of Europe and was created in an abandoned store, aiming at improving the quality of the neighbourhood and bringing nature closer to people. It became a meeting spot for communities, artists, businesses and citizens for exchanging knowledge on social/sustainability issues or for recreation. Popinn Park contained plants that improved air quality, local businesses that provide fair foods and drinks and nature-based art. (1)
After running for two years, Popinn Park closed and was transformed into an art gallery under the name of Popinn Art. Since 2018, Popinnart is an artist-run nomadic collective with over 25 contemporary artists. The art on offer is varied and qualitatively and conceptually challenging. There is a choice of spatial work, figurative and abstract, collages, photography, paintings, drawings, textiles and video. (5)

In 2008, the wilderness experience garden and laboratory was founded on 2,500 sqm of nature area in Münster by Annika and Olaf Bader, two pedagogues. With grasslands, hedges, fruit trees, a treehouse, beehives, a yurt, a fireplace and many more elements it’s a place for nature experience and exploration for children and adults. Guests are encouraged to engage with nature scientifically, via play, arts or manually. Based on a hands-on approach, there are also vocational trainings for extracurricular education providers offered (ref. 1 and 3).