Networks and cities' news

Innovative tools and methods to foster sustainable and biodiverse maintenance of public green areas

Increasing the size and improving the quality of urban green spaces is an utmost priority of all European cities in the shadow of the ecological crisis. This is also required by the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and the related Nature Restoration Law.

Diving into planning—the second Cities@Heart Quarterly Report

The second quarterly report of the Cities@Heart network covers significant progress and initiatives in revitalising city centres, focusing on a wide range of topics such as heritage, culture or technology. The report highlights the ongoing efforts and insights gained from collaborations aimed at fostering vibrant and sustainable city centres. Taking a pragmatic approach, the report presents practical strageties city stakeholders can impliment to improve the vitality of urban centres

How can temporary use contribute to the process of transformation

Temporary use has emerged as a significant strategy across Europe to address the challenges of vacancy and urban transformation. Projects such as the URBACT networks and Horizon 2020's T-Factor have highlighted the potential of temporary use to creatively repurpose empty spaces, supporting local economies and fostering social cohesion. By utilizing vacant buildings and brownfields for short-term initiatives, temporary use not only revitalizes areas but also provides a testing ground for long-term sustainable solutions.

Intergenerational Festival in Poljčane

At the beginning of this summer, we organized an Intergenerational Festival in the meadow under the Čreti hayrack in the Municipality of Poljčane as part of the URBACT program's BiodiverCity action network.

Tools to activate residents to trans form their private gardens in to biodiversity oases - Biodivercity case study 5.

Hegyvidék, Budapest's greenest district, is turning private gardens into biodiversity oases to tackle climate change and promote eco-friendly living. The Green Office is leading this effort with initiatives like free composting boxes, native tree planting, and bird-friendly programs, encouraging residents to adopt sustainable practices. The study was written by Ferenc Albert Szigeti, coordinator of the Hungarian Hub for Nature-based Solutions, lead expert of the BiodiverCity network.

If you are interested, you can find the whole study HERE!

WELDI Journal Number 2

This update on developments in the WELDI-network includes learning points from transnational meetings on access to housing and digital inclusion, and an assessment of what WELDI partners learned from the welcoming of Ukrainian refugees.