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The restoration of Highfields Park was completed in Summer 2018 with path repairs and tree works to be carried out in winter 2018 to 2019. The five-year development journey of returning Highfields park to its former glory has included two rounds of public consultation. The views of park users and project partners such as the University of Nottingham, the UK's Environment Agency and the Highfields Park User Group identified a strong desire to see the park restored and improved (ref. 1), including improvements on heritage features such as historic walls, bridges and the old Boating Lake Ticket Office (ref. 2). In total, this project aimed to repair unused structures of the park including walled gardens, gardener’s cottages and historic halls and houses, converting them into volunteer and training centers, event spaces and community facilities (ref. 3). Highfields Park also provides valuable scrub and woodland habitat for breeding birds such as robin, sparrow and blue tit. The additional diversity of habitats provides important foraging and breeding opportunities for invertebrates and mammals. (Ref 4)

The gardens of the Rambla de Sants is an elevated linear park (similar to the High line of New York) located in the Sants district of Barcelona (760 meters long and about 6 ha size). It is located over the structure of train and metro lines. It was opened to the public in August of 2016. The gardens include mainly native plantations, playground areas, and other facilities (Ref. 2).

In 2014, local residents of the St. Pauli neighbourhood of Hamburg supported by architects decided to reshape the Hilldegarden bunker built during WW II. They managed to convince the owner of the bunker, who currently leases the rooms of the bunker to a nightclub, a music school, an instrument store and a photography studio, to re-create the bunker in a way that pays special attention to ecological and social aspects. (Reference 1-3). ”The new project would see the space continue its mixed-use atmosphere, but topped with a massive public rooftop garden with walking trails.” The 800 sqm garden will use sustainable techniques for its operation, including renewable energies and greywater collection for irrigation and will offer a public garden where residents can engage in urban food production. (Reference 2) In September 2020, the reconstruction of the bunker is still in its early phases. (Ref. 8)

Hillyfields Community Park is situated in the Ward of Gillingham North in Medway (ref. 1). It is an open space with some remnant orchard. This space was in an area with high social deprivation and unemployment and was improved between 2005 and 2009 to include natural play elements, better accessibility, host community projects and recreational facilities, and be a safer space (Ref 1, 3).

The rain gardens of the Great Mosque give an example of a sustainable urban drainage system built 1000 years ago (Ref.1,8,9). The Great Mosque is a world heritage site by UNESCO (Ref. 1); therefore the rain gardens are protected and will continue to provide a sustainable irrigation system needed for the arid climate of Andalusia (Ref. 8,9).

The Hofgarten is a green area in the old town of Augsburg. It is part of the former prince-bishop's residence rebuilt in the 18th century and was built between 1739 and 1744 by Johann Caspar Bagnato (Ref. 1). The park was reconstructed in 2006 providing a barrier-free access to the park for disabled people (Ref. 2).

The Edinburgh Living Landscape (ELL) is a partnership between the Scottish Wildlife Trust, the City of Edinburgh Council, Edinburgh and Lothians Greenspace Trust (EGLT), the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Green Surge and Edinburgh University, it aims to help make Edinburgh a city fit for the future by fashioning healthy and beautiful environments that are resilient to climate change as well as being highly valued and accessible to people. It is made up of a range of projects that will create, restore and connect green areas of the city to make attractive and biodiverse landscapes that are enjoyed by residents and visitors. One of the examples is the Holyrood park. Naturalisation was tested in Holyrood Park, where a once regularly mown grassland is now cut only once per year. It benefits both wildlife and public amenity and also reduces maintenance costs for the site, with the potential to spend elsewhere on greenspace maintenance. This is a part of the ongoing Edinburgh Living Landscape Case Study which aims to make Edinburgh a city with healthy and beautiful environments, resilient to climate change. A range of similar projects will create, restore and connect green areas of the city to make an attractive and biodiverse landscape (ref 2, 3).

This is a private initiative located in a residential complex in the northern area of Rome. When a new tenant purchases or rents a house, he is provided with a private garden for horticulture, together with the assistance of experts in vegetable planting and growing. The initiative was designed to educate people on the importance of consuming local foods and living in close interactions with green areas inside urban areas (1 and 6).

The project aims to turn Honkasuo forest and meadow area into an urban village to house 2000 residents. These delightful nature elements have been preserved, for the most part, and the wave of sustainable development that is sweeping over the area has a definite environmental/ecological symbol as well (ref. 4). The constructions are aimed to be made out of wood and are meant to attract a diversity of people. Part of this project is the creation of a park, urban farming plots, natural design to attract butterflies, a playground and natural ponds to retain rainwater (ref. 2,3,4). Part of the development has been completed with residents start moving in 2016, although the landscaped embankment is expected to be completed in 2022

The former Paulsgrove landfill is being developed into the Horsea Island Country Park to address the deficit of public open space for Portsmouth’s residents (3). The council plans to put in place a number of initiatives to make sure the country park is a recreational facility and attracts a diverse range of wildlife. This is being progressed through the PUSH Green Infrastructure Implementation Plan. (1). Veolia, the company that operated the landfill site on Horsea Island has the responsibility for implementing the landscape proposals which include tree planting, grass areas, wildflower meadows, footpaths and cycle routes. (2).