Last updated: October 2021
The Bizardin is the community garden of Hellemmes, created by the association AJOnc (Amis des Jardins Ouverts et néanmoins clôturés) on the initiative of a group of inhabitants. Managed by the locals, it gives life to the neighborhood where children like to play, watch insects, sow radishes, watch for frogs. A living garden where wild and cultivated plants come together and create a floristic richness often unsuspected by the simple passer-by, a result of many years of work. It is also an ideal place to observe as insects and birds swarm. (Ref 1)
Bizardin Gate (2018)
AJOnc, retrieved 09/16/2018 from Julien Collot
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Community gardens and allotments
- Community gardens
Key challenges
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Habitat and biodiversity conservation
- Green space creation and/or management
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Environmental education
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
- Economic development and employment (SDG 8)
- Economic development: agriculture
- Sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12)
- Sustainable production
Focus
Maintenance and management of urban nature, Ecological restoration of ecosystems, Transformation of previously derelict areas
Project objectives
The objectives were (a) to create a garden at a derelict area used for waste disposal; (b) to create more urban green space; (c) to create habitat for species especially for insects and frogs; (d) to promote the reintroduction of wild fruits; (e) to create an organic garden; (f) give a fair knowledge of the plant world through the practice of gardening; (g) raise awareness; and (h) educate the public, especially children, about nature, the environment (Ref 1).
Implementation activities
The garden occupies 3000m2 of area. An agreement with the town hall of Hellemmes and the installation of the fence in 2003 concretizes its creation. A study of pollution on the whole of the ground was done to check the healthy topsoil for the vegetable garden (1 / 20th of the surface). The authority installed (a) hedges and fields groves (b) nesting boxes in case of the housing crisis for birds, (c) areas of wasteland, wild grasses, wild honeydew plants (d) prairie spaces (e) a vegetable garden (e) an insect hotel for observation and protection in winter (f) a composting site (Ref 1).
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity conservation:
- Protect and enhance urban habitats
- Create new habitats
- Preserve and strengthen habitat connectivity
- Protect species
- Undertake specific measures to protect species
- Undertake specific measures to protect native species
- Undertake specific measures to protect valued species
- Means for conservation governance
- Raise public awareness
- Public engagement
Main beneficiaries
- Citizens or community groups
- Marginalized groups: Elderly people
- Young people and children
- Other
Governance
Management set-up
- Co-governance with government and non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Citizens or community group
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)
- Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
- Co-management/Joint management
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
AJOnc: the association and its active members, the salaried team and contacts, the other gardens of the network, The Town Hall of Hellemmes-Lille: Owners of the land available for the project, elected representatives whose delegations interest the garden and who support the project politically, the technicians of the services who support the actions materially, The councils of Neighborhoods: that of Barrière-Boloduc in Hellemmes and that of Fives for the Fivois participating in the project (Ref 1)
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
(Lille Plan for Agenda 21:launched on 2000 (Ref 3, 4))
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
- Private Foundation/Trust
- Crowdfunding
- Other
Type of funding
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Type of non-financial contribution
- Provision of land
- Provision of goods
- Provision of labour
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
- Public authorities (e.g. land, utility services)
- Citizens (e.g. volunteering)
- Other
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Climate change
- Enhanced carbon sequestration
- Environmental quality
- Improved air quality
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
- Increased conversion of degraded land or soil
- Reduced biodiversity loss
- Increased number of species present
- Increased protection of threatened species
Economic impacts
- Increase in agricultural production (for profit or not)
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Improved access to urban green space
- Increased opportunities for social interaction
- Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
- Increased access to healthy/affordable food
- Increased sustainability of agriculture practices
- Health and wellbeing
- Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
- Education
- Increased support for education and scientific research
- Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
Type of reported impacts
Achieved impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Yes
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
References
1. Le Bizardin. Available at: Source link. Accessed on 11th August, 2020.
2. AJONC Amis des Jardins Ouverts et néanmoins clôturés. AJONC. Available at: Source link. Accessed on 11th August, 2020.
3. Le Bizardin Facebook Page. URL: Source link. Accessed on 12th August, 2020.
4. Lille. Agenda 21 de Territoires. URL: Source link. Accessed on 11th August, 2020.
2. AJONC Amis des Jardins Ouverts et néanmoins clôturés. AJONC. Available at: Source link. Accessed on 11th August, 2020.
3. Le Bizardin Facebook Page. URL: Source link. Accessed on 12th August, 2020.
4. Lille. Agenda 21 de Territoires. URL: Source link. Accessed on 11th August, 2020.
Bizardin Pool and Rain Water Recuperation (2012)
AJOnc, retrieved 09/16/2018 from Julien Collot
Bizardin Dragon (2010)
AJOnc, retrieved 09/16/2018 from Julien Collot
Bizardin Games (2016)
AJOnc, retrieved 09/16/2018 from Julien Collot