Networks and cities' news

Guimarães Spring Festival 2025 fills the Penha Mountain with nature, joy and over 2,000 visitors

After being postponed for a week due to rain, the Guimarães Spring Festival 2025 took place on the 29th and 30th of March on the Penha Mountain, a vital ecological asset in Guimarães, featuring 10 conservation-worthy habitats and hosting over 320 vascular plant species and 120 terrestrial vertebrate species. As part of the city's biocultural corridor, the Penha Mountain connects natural and urban areas via the Biodiversity Route, enhancing ecological connectivity and supporting both wildlife and community well-being.

Cieza celebrates its first BiodiverCity Festival: A week of nature, creativity and community

From 17 to 24 March 2025, Cieza celebrated the first edition of the BiodiverCity Festival, a vibrant and participatory event organized by the Department of the Environment, in collaboration with Aguas de Cieza, within the framework of the URBACT BiodiverCity project. The festival brought together more than 250 people through a wide range of inclusive, intergenerational activities designed to strengthen the connection between citizens and urban nature.

Forest Festival – BiodiverCity Festival in Limerick

As part of the URBACT BiodiverCity project, Limerick City and County Council proudly presents the Limerick Forest Festival — a joyful celebration of Ireland’s National Tree Week taking place on Sunday, 9th March in the beautiful surroundings of Baggot Estate.

BiodiverCity Project Showcased in Finland during Erasmus+ STEAMCRAFT Meeting

Testing Action Wildflower ID Swatch in Limerick

Find below one excellent example about a real action: 

"our rationale for this testing action to create something unique to Limerick to assist LCCC staff and the public identify and record 25 species of native wildflower. The ID swatch is based on 25 species of wildflower found in Corbally Meadow, one of the most botanical species rich sites in the city. It is hoped the local aspect will help raise/educate public awareness around the value of native local wildflower seed as opposed to buying in non-local flowers that would not be as beneficial to local species in their larval and adult lifecycle as a source of food and habitat.

The Process involved procuring a local botanist to help determine the 25 species to be included in the swatch and to provide the images and detailed text for the life cycle and interesting species facts for "

Have you ever tried beehive therapy? Have you ever met a biodiversity officer?

In this edition, we dive into the transformative work of Local Authority Biodiversity Officers in Ireland, explore urban beekeeping as a tool for engagement, and discover how public parks can evolve into climate-resilient biodiversity hubs. We also take a closer look at groundbreaking initiatives like Limerick’s first Natural Play Area, permaculture gardens in Slovenia, and innovative tree and park management in Budapest.