Networks and cities' news

The Hidden Garden: Nature, Culture and Art in Siena

The Hidden Garden (il Giardino Nascosto) is a peri-urban regeneration project led by the Siena Art Institute that aims to revitalize a previously abandoned wooded area, adjacent to the medieval walls of the italian city of Siena, in Tuscany, and located in a 'border' zone between the inner order of urban space and the spontaneity of nature outside. Unlike more traditional gardens, this is a living ecosystem that evolves over time, adapting to human presence and welcoming human experiences, in a relationship of continuous exchange. 

Composting Competition in Dunaújváros Kindergartens

The City of Dunaújváros has taken another step forward in the BiodiverCity URBACT project, as testing actions continue with the start of the new school year. Two local kindergartens have launched a compost collection competition, designed to encourage children to learn about waste reduction, recycling, and the value of natural resources in a playful and engaging way.

Celebrating urban biodiversity that provides great benefits for cities and citizens

Spring and the Summer was really loud in BiodiverCity partner cities as they organised BiodiverCity Festivals celebrating urban biodiversity. Tree plantations, guided tours, promotion of monumental trees, forest bathing, craft workshops, art exhibitions, cultural programmes and interactive activities promoting biodiversity were organised for all generations in 10 corners of Europe. Urban green areas are indeed great assets to engage residents and explain the benefits of nature (the so-called ecosystem services). However, while thousands of residents actively participate in tree plantations, which is great, fewer people are aware that most of these ecosystem services are provided by mature trees. And in many parts of Europe, they face serious challenges like never-before-seen droughts, increased pollution (traffic, dogs, humans) and neglect by public utility companies when earthworks are needed.

Read our Quarterly Network Report 6 summarising the learning journey of the BiodiverCity URBACT Action Planning Network between April and June 2025

Biodivercity case study 14 - Creating urban wild life and green corridors for the benefit of nature and people

Urban areas might harbor high diversity of species. Urban landscapes can be, for instance, especially valuable for pollinators and shelter a relatively high pollinator diversity compared to monoculture-dominated agricultural landscapes due to the high variety, availability, and temporarily even distribution of floral resources. Conservation within urban areas can be essential for many species and, of course, beneficial for residents for multiple reasons through the ecosystem services green areas provide. 

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A Trip into the past and future!

The Veszprém ULG of the BiodiverCity project held its latest meeting at a very special venue  the Waterworks Museum and Exhibition Hall, created by the local utility company Bakonykarszt to celebrate 125 years of drinking water supply in the city. 

BiodiverCity Steps Forward: local action and peer learning take centre stage

Between January and March 2025, the BiodiverCity network may have appeared quiet on the transnational front, but beneath the surface, partner cities were buzzing with activity. Following the inspiring Mid Term Review in Guimarães (later crowned European Green Capital 2026) the network shifted its focus to local implementation and refinement of strategies for biodiversity-friendly urban development.