Last updated: October 2021
"Flowers in the city' is a small project in the northern district of Szczecin to plant multi-species flowers in the green belt between two big city roads. The preparation of the meadow consists of removing the layer of turf and planting the corresponding species of flowers in different colours in different periods of the year so that the flower carpet flourishes for most of the vegetation season. The justification for the project highlights its esthetical effects, its role in serving as a food area for pollinators as well as a cost reduction for the lawn care units due to less annual mowing [1].
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Grey infrastructure featuring greens
- Alley or street trees and other street vegetation
- Parks and urban forests
- Pocket parks/neighbourhood green spaces
Key challenges
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Habitat and biodiversity conservation
- Green space creation and/or management
- Regeneration, land-use and urban development
- Promote natural styles of landscape design for urban development
Focus
Creation of new green areas, Maintenance and management of urban nature
Project objectives
Three main goals identified:
- Visual effects of the flower meadow
- Food for pollinators in the city
- Reduction in mowing costs [1]
- Maintained biodiversity [4]
Implementation activities
Preparation of the meadow: removal of turf layer and planting of suitable flowering plant species that bloom in different colors in different periods of the year [1].
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity conservation:
- Protect and enhance urban habitats
- Reduce negative impacts and avoid the alteration/damage of ecosystem
- Protect species
- Undertake specific measures to protect species
- Undertake specific measures to protect valued species
Main beneficiaries
- Citizens or community groups
Governance
Management set-up
- Co-governance with government and non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Citizens or community group
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)
- Crowd-sourcing/Crowd-funding/Participatory budget
- Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
Project funded from the city's participatory budget. Citizens were involved in the projects' design and voting for the best project proposals. The municipal government is responsible for implementing the successful projects.
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
(Project proposal had to be in accordance with the city's plans, programs and strategies, in particular with the city's local development plans.(Ref.2 and 3))
Financing
Total cost
€10,000 - €50,000
Source(s) of funding
- Public local authority budget
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
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
- Enhanced support of pollination
- Increased spread of native/heirloom/open-pollinated seed
Economic impacts
- Reduce financial cost for urban management
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
Type of reported impacts
Achieved impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Yes
Presence of indicators used in reporting
Yes
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
References
1. Project's application form, Szczecin's participatory city budget 2017, 'Flowers in the city' ('Kwiaty w mieście - ul. Przyjaciół Żołnierza), Source link Last accessed July 6 2020
2. Project's evaluation card, Szczecin's participatory city budget 2017, 'Flowers in the city' ('Kwiaty w mieście - ul. Przyjaciół Żołnierza), Source link Last accessed July 6 2020
3. Rules for submitting applications to the Szczecin citizens 'budget 2017' (‘Zasady składania wniosków do szczecińskiego budżetu obywatelskiego 2017’), Source link Last accessed July 6 2020
4. Szczecin Participatory Budget. (2019). Kwiaty w mieście - Przyjaciół Żołnierza (Flowers in the city - Przyjaciół Żołnierza Street). The SPB website. Available at: Source link (Accessed: 06 July 2020).
5. Nalewajko, A. (2017). Powstanie Łąki Łan (A flowery meadow will be created). 24Source link. Available at: https://24Source link (Accessed 06 July 2020).
6. Fundacja Łąka. (no date). Ile kosztuje łąka (How much does a meadow cost). Łąka. Available at: Source link (Accessed 06 July 2020).
2. Project's evaluation card, Szczecin's participatory city budget 2017, 'Flowers in the city' ('Kwiaty w mieście - ul. Przyjaciół Żołnierza), Source link Last accessed July 6 2020
3. Rules for submitting applications to the Szczecin citizens 'budget 2017' (‘Zasady składania wniosków do szczecińskiego budżetu obywatelskiego 2017’), Source link Last accessed July 6 2020
4. Szczecin Participatory Budget. (2019). Kwiaty w mieście - Przyjaciół Żołnierza (Flowers in the city - Przyjaciół Żołnierza Street). The SPB website. Available at: Source link (Accessed: 06 July 2020).
5. Nalewajko, A. (2017). Powstanie Łąki Łan (A flowery meadow will be created). 24Source link. Available at: https://24Source link (Accessed 06 July 2020).
6. Fundacja Łąka. (no date). Ile kosztuje łąka (How much does a meadow cost). Łąka. Available at: Source link (Accessed 06 July 2020).