Rouen, France
City population: 484661
Duration: 2014 – 2020
Implementation status: Completed
Scale: Micro-scale: District/neighbourhood level
Project area: 15000 m2
Type of area: Agricultural area or farmland
Last updated: October 2021

The orchard of the Vallon was established by the city in an area that had historically served as an orchard fifty years previous (Ref. 9). A few pear trees had survived and gave rise to the idea of ​​reconstituting it. In 2014, the city planted apple, peach, pear, cherry, apricot and other fruit trees on one and a half hectares of greenery. "At the beginning of 2015, the association Le Verger du Vallon was born. With its members, its mission is to maintain these trees with a view to sharing knowledge and educational exchanges "(Ref. 9). "Called upon by the city of Rouen for the establishment of a participatory orchard, the social center wished to promote this project among the inhabitants within the framework of the arrow projects of the CAF (social security) de la Seine Maritime entering the field of financing "to support a cooperative project of residents initiated and built with them from a common concern " (Ref. 3, page Description).

A group of people consulting on a tree
https://www.senacs.fr/fiche-action/document/345

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
  • Inclusive and effective governance (SDG 16)
  • Inclusive governance
  • Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
  • Environmental education
  • Social cohesion
  • Social interaction
  • Health and well-being (SDG 3)
  • Improving mental health
  • Creation of opportunities for recreation
  • Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
  • Preservation of natural heritage
  • Preservation of historic traditions
  • Sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12)
  • Sustainable consumption
  • Sustainable production

Focus

Creation of new green areas, Transformation of previously derelict areas

Project objectives

"By implementing moments of conviviality that fosters social solidarity, allows exchanges of knowledge and experiences and helps to fight against loneliness and isolation. It also contributes to the beautification of the public space by promoting the expression of biodiversity." (Ref. 3, section Methodologie) -"Promote diversity and social ties" (Ref. 3, section Description) -"Embellishment of the public space by promoting the expression of biodiversity. Promotion of sustainable development and the environment within an urban neighborhood." (Ref. 3, section Auto-Evaluation)

Implementation activities

-300 planted shrubs (Ref. 6) -Guided tour (Ref. 6) -Strengthen and position the social center in its role of facilitating the relationship between the institutions and the inhabitants of the neighborhood. Meet new inhabitants and allow the relationship between them. Dynamism of the social center by our participation in new actions. -"Action: Perspectives: -Continue the actions begun in 2014, intensify them, develop them, work on the ecosystem, set up hives -Search for historical data, contact with the former owners and the city's archives -Working with families from this orchard -Address the notion of consumption in all its nourishing aspects but also ecological respect for nature." (Ref. 3, section self-Evaluation) -Plantation of fruits trees by the city in 2014 (Ref. 8) -Schools helping in plantations (Ref. 4) -Pedagogical signs established in 2018 (Ref. 7) -Official inauguration of the development of the Vallon orchard event in 2020 (Ref. 7) -(Ref. 3, self-evaluation): “Result on the territory • Beautification of public space by promoting the expression of biodiversity. • Promotion of sustainable development and the environment within an urban district. Result for the social center • Consolidate and position the social center in its role of facilitator of bringing together the institutions and the inhabitants of the district. • Meet new inhabitants and allow the relationship between them. • Dynamism of the social center through our participation in new actions. Result for the inhabitants • Discovery and appropriation of a public space. • Social bond and mix. • Intergenerational meeting. • Acquisition of know-how and know-how (biodiversity, pruning technique, grafting and cultivation). • Commitment and decision making” "Made up of 75 existing fruit trees, it has been enriched by an orchard small fruits (raspberries, blackcurrants, red currants ...). This space is managed by the association "Le verger du Vallon ”and made available to Rouen" (Ref. 4).

Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities

Biodiversity conservation:

  • Protect and enhance urban habitats
  • Create new habitats
  • Protect species
  • Undertake specific measures to protect species
  • Means for conservation governance
  • Raise public awareness
  • Public engagement
  • Create and use scientific knowledge for conservation

Main beneficiaries

  • Local government/Municipality
  • Non-government organisation/Civil Society
  • Citizens or community groups

Governance

Management set-up

  • Co-governance with government and non-government actors

Type of initiating organisation

  • Local government/municipality
  • Citizens or community group
  • District/neighbourhood association

Participatory approaches/ community involvement

  • Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)
  • Taskforce groups
  • Dissemination of information and education
  • Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)
  • Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
  • Co-management/Joint management
  • Citizen oversight (e.g. boards, advisory)

Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project

-The initiators of the action: the Social Center, the city of Rouen, the neighborhood council (Ref. 3, section "Raison d'Etre") -Managed by the inhabitants (Ref. 3, section "Methodologie") through the association "Verger du Vallon". -The social center carries the association "Verger Participatif" in its implementation and in its actions (Ref. 3, Auto-Evaluation) -Various schools including the school Anatole France participated in the plantations.(Ref. 6, page 2) Action Partners: National Education, Local Association, Caf (Social Security of the Department), The city of Rouen, DDCS (Social Cohesion Direction of the Department Seine-Maritimes) (Ref. 3, section Methodologie). regional gov: “In addition, near the orchard of the valley, a horse and a pony have taken over the Paul Hélot meadow. These animals belong to a local actor responsible for the management of the site. This action is part of an eco-grazing program in partnership with the Rouen Normandy Metropolis.” (Ref. 7).

Project implemented in response to ...

... an EU policy or strategy? Unknown
... a national policy or strategy? Unknown
... a local policy or strategy? Yes ("The City encourages the development of new "shared" spaces born of citizen initiatives (gardens, feet of buildings ...) that allow us to forge a new form of solidarity: social mix, intergenerational encounters ... through the practice of gardening, Of user-friendliness and sharing time." Therefore, the city of Rouen had a project participatory orchard which aligned with their action plans (Ref. 4).)

Financing

Total cost

€10,000 - €50,000

Source(s) of funding

  • Public local authority budget
  • Funds provided by non-governmental organization (NGO)

Type of funding

  • Earmarked public budget
  • 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)

Impacts and Monitoring

Environmental impacts

  • Green space and habitat
  • Increased green space area
  • Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
  • Reduced biodiversity loss
  • Increased number of species present

Economic impacts

  • Increase in agricultural production (for profit or not)
  • Other

Socio-cultural impacts

  • Social justice and cohesion
  • Improved social 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
  • Improved mental health
  • Cultural heritage and sense of place
  • Promotion of cultural diversity
  • Improvement in people’s connection to nature
  • Education
  • Increased support for education and scientific research
  • Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
  • Other

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. Ville de Rouen (2017). "Délibération 11-1 du Vendredi 30 juin 2017". Available at: Source link (Accessed: August 26, 2020).
2. Ville de Rouen (n.d). "Charte du Jardinage Urbain". Available at: Source link (Accessed: August 26, 2020).
3. Senacs (n.d). "Actions "VERGER PARTICIPATIF". Available at: Source link (Accessed: August 26, 2020).
4. Ville de Rouen (2015). Propositions d'Actions: "DEVELOPPEMENT D’ESPACES PARTAGES » DE LA DIRECTION DES ESPACES PUBLICS ET NATURELS". Available at: Source link (Accessed: August 26, 2020).
5. Poster of guided tour event. (n.d). Available at: Source link (Accessed: August 26, 2020).
6. Ville de Rouen (2015). Communiqué de Presse: Soutenir la biodiversité au cœur de Rouen. Available at: Source link (Website not available in 2020).
7. Rouen Ensemble (n.d). "Valorisation d'espaces participatifs". Available at: Source link (Accessed: August 26, 2020).
8. Ville de Rouen (n.d). "Verger du Vallon". Available at: Source link (Accessed: August 26, 2020).
9. Hemery, Martin (2018). "Analysis of the project "Verger du Vallon". Available at: Source link (Accessed: August 26, 2020).
School children participating in activities to promote the orchard
https://www.senacs.fr/fiche-action/document/345
Plantations by school children
https://www.senacs.fr/fiche-action/document/345
Gardeners of the city animating a workshop for new members
https://www.senacs.fr/fiche-action/document/345