Health and well-being (SDG 3)

A number of studies were carried out since 1984 to determine a suitable flood prevention scheme for the White Cart Water and its tributary to provide protection up to the 1 in 200 years event (corresponding to protection up to 1 in 100 years event by 2050s, according to considered climate change projections). In 2002 the development of the scheme began with the help of consulting engineers. The resulting White Cart Water Flood Prevention Scheme, the largest flood protection scheme in Scotland, was published in November 2004 and approved by the Scottish Government in 2006 (Ref 1). Phases 1 and 2 of the White Cart Water Flood Prevention Scheme were completed by late 2011 as part of Glasgow City Council's strategy, working with other key stakeholders, to reduce flood risk to residents and businesses in the south side of Glasgow. In 2017, Glasgow City Council secured funding to enable the completion of the third and final phase of the scheme. This phase involves the construction of 9 sections of flood defence - a combination of flood defence walls and embankments which will provide direct flood defence along sections of both the White Cart Water and Auldhouse Burn. Through 2017 the project team has been finalising the design and undertaking surveys etc. The project is currently ongoing (Ref 3).

It is the most extensive green roof in Lublin, designed to cover 16,700 square meters rooftop area of the shopping mall 'Castle Terraces' (Tarasy Zamkowe). Its purpose is to serve as a green recreational area for relaxation and public events, as well as an ecological solution for heat mitigation and water retention. The roof is divided into two parts: 1) an area accessible to the public with flower meadows, walking paths, viewing points from which the visitors can see Lublin’s old town 2) ‘intensive cultivation area’ with endemic trees, bushes and succulents which are not directly accessible to the public [1,2,3,8].

Urban gardening or gardening in the city is a form of agriculture that is about more than just producing food: community gardens involves also social, cultural and political components. It's about actively participating in urban development, creating new living spaces or making a contribution to biological diversity (ref. 3). The campus garden on a surface area of 1,200 sqm provided by the university was created by a group of students in 2013. It is open every day to everyone interested in gardening and serves as a place for recreation and exchange for students of different disciplines and citizens. Apart from herbs, vegetables and fruits, also flowers are planted. Seeds and materials used as plant beds, such as tires or rice bags are often donated from the city or local businesses (ref. 3 and 4).

Appletree is an outdoor community resource, where people of all ages and from all walks of life, get together to grow e.g. fruit, and contribute to developing and maintaining the area. The growing space and garden are divided into different areas, offering a range of gardening experience. The community also contributes to their permaculture, wildlife and wildflower areas. The community is constantly planting and regenerating areas of the garden. (Ref. 1)

The project assumes planting roses and other flowery shrubs in the Szczecin's district of Kijewo. Characterized by heavy traffic, the area has benefited from 'rose gardens' along its main roads and neighbourhood squares as a way of mitigating the traffic noise. The rose gardens serve as natural acoustic screens for noise reduction. The initiative additionally aims to enhance the aesthetics of the area and the image of the Szczecin's city - in line with its long-term brand management strategy "Szczecin floating garden 2050". According to the initiators of the project, it refers to the tradition of roses, which would decorate the same neighbourhood in the past [1].

Due to the challenges caused by climate change, Hamburg decided to become greener and developed a comprehensive, pioneering green roof strategy. The strategy aims at creating 100 hectares of new green walls by 2019 by providing grants for building owners for greening roofs and offering them rain water fee reduction owing to the rain water retention of the green roofs. (Reference 1) The financial support offered until the end of 2019 is 3 million EUR. (Reference 2) The services offered by the city in this plan consist of four pillars: promotion (financial incentive), dialogue, regulation, and scientific support. (Reference 7)

With the relocation of the railways between the Hauptbahnhof and Pasing a large area became available for an infill development strategy. The redevelopment of central railway areas of Munich is in line with the city's guidelines for sustainable development (Perspective München) referred to as compact - urban - green. The initiative is aimed at implementing 7500 new flats and creating 15000 new workplaces in total, which are supported by green recreational areas. (Reference 1) The project consists of six separately planned parts, some are already partially finished. (Reference 2) This NBS discusses Birketweg, one of these parts, which is 60 hectares large.

Manchester’s Stevenson Square was given a green makeover. In addition to securing funds from Manchester City Council, the project underwent a substantial crowd fundraising campaign to transform the square into an ‘urban oasis’ and provide street trees, permeable pavements and planters.The pavement was extended on one side of Stevenson Square which enabled street trees to be planted. More tree planting undertook on the central reservation and a green roof was designed to collect and store rainwater. Self-irrigating hanging baskets were installed on lamp posts (ref 4).

Number One First Street is at the corner of Medlock Street and Whitworth Street behind the train arches near Oxford Road Station in the city center of Manchester (ref. 6). During the redevelopment of the former BT building now called Number One First Street a green roof was installed (ref 2). Whilst the vegetation slowly established, it provided a habitat for invertebrates and insects. A green wall, accommodating 37,000 plants was planned to be installed by 2020 which would replace glass, plastic and metal cladding with greenery (ref 1).

Wigan Flashes Project is encouraging natural re-colonisation to a site of very high conservation value and an enormous asset for recreation for the local community. The Wigan Flashes are a group of eight shallow wetlands, formed originally as a result of mining subsidence, which extend south from near Wigan's town centre. Over time, the industrial landscape has evolved in to a mixture of open water, reedbed, mossland, willow carr and fenland (ref 1).