Achieved impacts

In 2010 a new drainage system was installed in Traktoros Street that solved the disposal of surface-water so that bigger storms would not cause damages in the area and separates rainwater from the sewage. The rainwater is directed to the lake in Adyváros. The project was the third phase of the complex reconstruction of draining in the Szabadhegy neighbourhood. While the first two phases (the construction of the main pipelines and drainage of Pannónia Street; drainage of Vak Bottyán Street and paving streets) were financed by the municipality, the third phase was implemented with the help of the EU. (Reference 1, 2)

Within the national park of Alta Murgia, a project was implemented since 2006 from a company which produces ecological products ("Fattoria della Mandorla"). They aimed at creating an ecovillage with allotment gardens by practising biological agriculture and promoting biodiversity for cultivated plants. In addition, the project aims at improving the contact of visitors with nature and give further value to the natural park. Moreover, the project wants to stimulate sustainable production and consumption of cultivated products. (Ref.1.)

The catchment includes the River Avon (a major resource for recreational activities and public water supply) and its various tributaries. Coventry is the largest urban area in the catchment, and the catchment has a high value for wildlife. (Ref. 1)
Main priorities include engaging communities to take ownership of their local water environment, reducing urban and rural pollution; delivering enhancement projects in the 3 Priority Areas (e.g. Coventry Brooks) and Returning water corridors to a near-natural state. (Ref. 2). The Catchment Based Approach (CaBA) is a Government policy framework that empowers local action to improve the water environment through community partnerships. A renewed focus on the catchment-based approach has led to Catchment Partnerships (i.e. The Warwickshire Avon Catchment Partnership) being set up to drive local delivery of these projects. (Ref. 3)

The Garden Factory ('Tuinfabriek') is an exceptional urban agriculture project on a roof of the central station that aims at becoming the largest food-producing roof of the Netherlands. The project is a self-sustaining vegetable garden located on the roof of a busy mall in the centre of Utrecht (ref. 5). On the roof, citizens, students, company employees and schools work together to grow vegetables and keep bees and chicken. The Garden Factory reflects an ecological 'self-sustaining factory' as the chickens, worms and bees 'work' in the garden as being part of the decomposing system and pollination and a system is built for rainwater retention that allows for irrigation (ref. 1). Eating, composting, sowing, growing, harvesting, cooking form the production process of this Garden Factory (ref. 4).
The main elements of the roof garden are in place, such as the crop bins, the chicken coop and the decomposing machine are completed. However, it is an ongoing developing project as some elements are still in development stage such as some elements of the Soup Kitchen and the aim is to integrate the Garden Factory more with the central station shopping mall in multiple ways (ref. 1).

As part of the restoration of park Denis Gardens, an innovative water element was built consisting of water flowing down the stairs, circulated and cleaned by a pump and filters. This helps regulate the local microclimate by reducing temperatures in hot days and creating humidity in the air (Ref. 1; Ref. 5). Also, the element allows people to walk bare-footed and cool off. In addition, the water reduces air pollution by extracting dust from the air, and the structure has an aesthetic and recreational function, with a restaurant underneath. (Ref. 1; Ref. 2; Ref. 6).

The city department for green space, environment and sustainability and the foundation citizens for Münster initiated a citizen-based intervention which aims at turning the park area at the "Spickmannplatz“ called "Grünschleife“ into a meeting point for residents and neighbours. The concept for its regeneration is based on workshops and ideation processes of citizens whose involvement goes beyond urban gardening activities but involves an active co-creation of the area by co-planning and development. Apart from several communal restorations works, vegetables, fruits and herbs plantations, a pavilion, a dog station and chessboards with benches were set up (ref. 1).

The initiative promoted by the event “Primavera Mediterranea” (Mediterranean spring) transforms the central pedestrian area of via Argirio into an urban park. The project is aimed at rethinking the urban spaces in a green way, as urban gardens are built within the whole central area. The main benefit of the initiative is to give a green view of the city centre, a new dimension of the lived urban space. In addition, workshops and manifestations are organized within the area, to promote also the social and cultural value of the zone. (Ref.1.) The intervention is an initiative taking place every year since 2011, which lasts for days. Private shops, associations and consultancies work together to realise the urban gardens in the main street in Bari. (Ref.1.2.&3.)

"This 26-hectare park, the largest in Clermont-Ferrand, offers a privileged view of the city. Several wooded areas serve as shelters for permanent and passing wildlife. For the last two years, gardeners in the park have no longer used pesticides to maintain Montjuzet Park, the effects are already measurable on the enrichment of flora and fauna." "During the development of the Parc Montjuzet, the choice was made to keep 9 hectares without intervention. These hectares could be a source of some ecological richness. Hives have been established near this area since 2009." (Ref. 1) This park has the Refuge LPO label. (Ref 2)

Warwickshire Wildlife Trust has completed an urban river restoration on the Guphill Brook that aims to restore the brook's natural features and enhance the surrounding habitat. "The project [is expected to] bring multiple benefits to diminishing wildlife and deprived local communities but also importantly to flood risk reduction, which is becoming ever more important with the increased negative effects of climate change." (Ref. 1)

The hurricane Kyrill devastated up to one-third of the tree stock in the city of Münster and thereby changed the green cityscape in 2007. Therefore, the civic society movement "Foundation Citizens for Münster" initiated the project "Bürgerbäume" (literal translation: citizen trees) to foster reforestation of the promenade of the city castle and other affected spots in 2008. In collaboration with the city department for urban green, motivated citizens and citizen groups took over tree sponsorships with up to € 1,000 per tree to help restore the urban green within three months after the event (ref. 1, 4).