Last updated: October 2021
The Allotment Gardens in Oslo are a part of the Norwegian Allotment Garden Association (NKHF). The allotments were created throughout the 1900s, and are still maintained to this day. The allotments within the NKHF aim to contribute to better life quality and a better childhood for children growing up in urban environments. They also act as “green lungs”, and provide an important resource for the city and the local environment. There are nine different allotment areas in Oslo, consisting of both private allotments and community gardens. (Ref. 1)
Source: Ref. 10, Anette Lundquist
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Community gardens and allotments
- 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)
- Social interaction
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
Focus
Maintenance and management of urban nature
Project objectives
The NBS aims to achieve the following:
- Contribute to a better life quality and a better childhood for children growing up in urban environments
- Meet environmental and ecologically sustainable standards
- Contribute to biodiversity
- Promote the positive social, health and welfare aspects of allotment life
- Encourage the creation of more allotments
(Ref. 1)
Implementation activities
- Maintenance of the Association, its goals and its existing allotments, as well as the creation of new allotment gardens (Ref. 1, 4)
- Supporting the gardens’ profiling work (including financial support); having active contact with relevant organizations; updating member gardens about association’s activities; offering support for local horticulture courses (Ref. 1)
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity conservation:
- Protect and enhance urban habitats
- Preserve and strengthen existing habitats and ecosystems
- Create new habitats
- Means for conservation governance
- Raise public awareness
Main beneficiaries
- Non-government organisation/Civil Society
- Citizens or community groups
Governance
Management set-up
- Led by non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Non-government organisation/civil society
- Citizens or community group
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)
- Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
- Citizen oversight (e.g. boards, advisory)
- Citizen monitoring and review
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
Civil Society: Norway Allotment Association - organizing body (Ref. 1)
Citizens: Parcel owners of the different allotment gardens (Ref. 1)
Participation in board meetings (Ref 8)
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
No
(The Allotment Association of Norway (NKHF) was created already in 1927 (Ref. 1), and it is therfore highly unlikely that any of the allotments, (including the once created after the formation of the EU) had and connection to an EU directive.)
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
No
Financing
Total cost
€10,000 - €50,000
Source(s) of funding
- Other
Type of funding
- Membership or entrance fees
- Other
Non-financial contribution
Type of non-financial contribution
- Provision of labour
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
- Citizens (e.g. volunteering)
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
Economic impacts
- Unknown
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
- Health and wellbeing
- Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
- Cultural heritage and sense of place
- Protection of historic and cultural landscape / infrastructure
- Education
- Increased awareness of NBS and their benefits
Type of reported impacts
Achieved impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Unknown
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. NKHF (n.d.) About Norway Allotment Association. /Om Oss - Norsk Kolonihageforbund. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 29 October 2020].
2. NKHF (2017). Statutes for Oslo Association of NKHF/Vedtekter for Oslo Krets av Norsk Kolonihageforbund. Notes from AGM, last time edited 29.03.2017. [Document provided].
3. Oslo Kommune (2001). Allotments in Oslo: Valuation of Cultural Value/Kolonihager i Oslo: Vurdering av kulturminneverdi. Rapport Byantikvaren 2001. Byantikvaren i Oslo. [Document provided].
4. Oslo Allotment Association (2017). The Allotments in Oslo. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 29 October 2020].
5. Oslo Allotment Association (2017). The Obligations of the Parcel Source link forpliktelser. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 29 October 2020].
6. Solvang dept. 5 (n.d.) The creation of Solvang Department 5/Tilblivelsen av Solvang avdeling 5. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 29 October 2020].
7. The City of Oslo (2017). Quiet Urban areas. [Not available in 2020].
8. Solvang Kolonihage 2 (2015). Annual meeting Solvang Allotment department 2, Yearly report 2014-2015. /Årsmøte Solvang kolonihage avdeling 2, Årsberetning 2014-2015. [Document provided].
9. Oslo Byleksikon. (n.d). Allotment gardens. Kolonihager. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 29 October 2020].
10. Solvang dept. 5. (2020). Welcome to the 5s website. Velkommen til 5-erns hjemmeside. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 29 October 2020].
11. Høilund, A. (2020). Shared showers and toilets are kept closed in the allotment gardens. But there will be no lock on the gate. Felles dusjer og toaletter holdes stengt i kolonihagene. Men det blir ingen lås på porten. VårtOslo. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 29 October 2020].
2. NKHF (2017). Statutes for Oslo Association of NKHF/Vedtekter for Oslo Krets av Norsk Kolonihageforbund. Notes from AGM, last time edited 29.03.2017. [Document provided].
3. Oslo Kommune (2001). Allotments in Oslo: Valuation of Cultural Value/Kolonihager i Oslo: Vurdering av kulturminneverdi. Rapport Byantikvaren 2001. Byantikvaren i Oslo. [Document provided].
4. Oslo Allotment Association (2017). The Allotments in Oslo. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 29 October 2020].
5. Oslo Allotment Association (2017). The Obligations of the Parcel Source link forpliktelser. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 29 October 2020].
6. Solvang dept. 5 (n.d.) The creation of Solvang Department 5/Tilblivelsen av Solvang avdeling 5. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 29 October 2020].
7. The City of Oslo (2017). Quiet Urban areas. [Not available in 2020].
8. Solvang Kolonihage 2 (2015). Annual meeting Solvang Allotment department 2, Yearly report 2014-2015. /Årsmøte Solvang kolonihage avdeling 2, Årsberetning 2014-2015. [Document provided].
9. Oslo Byleksikon. (n.d). Allotment gardens. Kolonihager. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 29 October 2020].
10. Solvang dept. 5. (2020). Welcome to the 5s website. Velkommen til 5-erns hjemmeside. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 29 October 2020].
11. Høilund, A. (2020). Shared showers and toilets are kept closed in the allotment gardens. But there will be no lock on the gate. Felles dusjer og toaletter holdes stengt i kolonihagene. Men det blir ingen lås på porten. VårtOslo. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 29 October 2020].
Source: Ref. 11, Sofie Aune Bjerkem
Source: Ref. 9, Helge Høifødt