Social interaction

The park, dedicated to the Sicilian judge assassinated by the mafia in the early 90s, was the object of a regeneration project by two associations (with the approval of the municipality). The initiative was practically implemented by kids of several schools in Catania, which were invited to the park with the intention of cleaning the area to make the spot available to new plants and trees. This is not just a natural intervention, it is of great cultural and social value for the importance of the character for the city and region. (Ref.1.)

An old hippodrome will be transformed into a natural urban park. "The Metropole of Rouen has launched this reconversion project of in consultation with residents and associations. It is the Mutabilis group that has been chosen to carry out this transformation, the first work of which will begin in 2017. The project, called "Champ Libre", integrates all the components essential to urban life: a place of discovery, nature and innovative agriculture" (Ref. 6).

Citizens have taken the initiative to create a community garden on an area where an abandoned building was located. With community engagement and support form public and private sector actors along with non-profit organisations, the garden was officially opened in 2011, bringing urban green space closer to the residents of the quarter. (1,2,3) The garden consists of recreational facilities, green space, a vegetable garden, fruit trees, a pond and activities are organized, which all largely contributes to social cohesion. The community has formed multiple groups that are responsible for parts of the community garden. (1)

Green space created behind Rock Ferry library on unused land. The plot of unused land, owned by the Wirral Council, signed a lease with the 'Grow Sow Well' project to run a volunteering scheme and sessions for the community (particularly aiming to help people with mental health issues). Grow Sow Well worked with residents, schools and community groups, bringing people together to celebrate their area and increase awareness of healthy eating and food production. (Ref. 1, 2) This lease has was transferred to the organisation called the Utopia Project (works with young people and includes horticulture). (Ref. 8)

After 3 years of works, in 2020 the city of Gdynia revitalized one of its largest parks with a panoramic view on the rest of the city. Planned activities had included new greenery (suitable for the local climate conditions), rebuilding vegetation, creation of the educational paths, building water playground facilities and a sensory garden, open-air gyms and improved infrastructure for the disabled [1,2,3]. The final project focused on the renovation of the amphitheatre and the drainage system underground. Residents have been enjoying the park since June 2020 [7].

This citizen-based initiative takes place in the heart of the city, in between the streets Montesano, San Michele, Carcaci, Sangiuliano. The project is the result of a collaboration among residents, artists and shop owners who are planning the regeneration of the area, which is currently in a state of decay. In particular, they realize green interventions (biological horticulture gardens, 100 new plantations) in the streets and on the buildings, to make the area more liveable and attractive for tourism. The initiative is fully supported by the municipality, who implemented the public areas to implement the interventions. (Ref.1.) This NBS has been an annual event, happening since 2013 (Ref. 2).

This local initiative has revitalized the most neglected places in the district and transformed them into green areas for leisure and recreation. The project resulted in the planting of new greenery (grasses, bushes, and flowers) and better maintenance of the existing plants, as well as installation of leisure and sports equipment (including benches and open-air gym) [1,2].

The project aims at realizing a large urban park to link the city and the sea coast. It is a project of significant social value, as it takes place in a neighbourhood which has been in a state of decay for 50 years. The intervention includes new facilities for recreation and sport, but first of all new plantations and the creation of rooftop gardens. It would be the second-largest park of the city, by linking the city and the sea. (Ref.1.)

A botanical garden in a forest was created owing to the cooperation of Gdansk Forest District with the city of Gdynia and the University of Gdansk. It consists of 27 thematic collections, covering ca. 50 ha, and adjacent forest phytocoenoses. The garden is specialized in showcasing trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants of the nemoral and boreal zone, particularly species indigenous for the Pomorze Gdanskie region. The garden protects a collection of species endangered and rare in the region and protected by law, as well as an orchard of old forms of fruit trees and shrubs [1,3].
The initial works have been completed, but greenery planting and further investments in the garden are ongoing. The botanical garden is a long-term undertaking and many plants were planted long before the construction began and the garden will "grow" up to 20 years [5].

This pilot project to create social gardens in Gdynia was developed by a cooperative of the local government, NGO sector and businesses. The project involved creating 3 (and finally 6) social gardens in different locations of Gdynia (Oksywie, Grabówek and Redłowo). They serve ecologic (greenery planting), horticultural (jointly managed vegetable and herb gardens), social (community integration) and educational (workshops on topics such as healthy lifestyle or building bird boxes) purposes. The gardens are being co-managed on a voluntary basis by the local communities with the help of an appointed gardener and an animator [1,4]. The project is based on 4 pillars: 1) social participation; 2) innovation; 3) social sensitivity; 4) food anthropology [5].