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Since the decay of the former DDR, the lignite industry had a major downturn. Most of the mines were closed and its remaining craters re-naturalized and flooded with ground- or rainwater to be revived as recreational lakes. In the Leipzig area of "Neuseenland" up to 23 artificial lakes were created since the nineties by the respective mining company "Lausitzer und Mitteldeutsche Bergbau-Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH" which has the obligation to securely and sustainably redevelop the area into forestry, agricultural, natural or recreational areas and reintegrate it into the adjacent landscape. The lakes have become important recreational areas for citizens (4, 8).

In 2017, the Sintra City Council opened a new urban park in the quarter of Cavaleira, with 25 thousand square meters that are inserted in urbanization where about 5 thousand people live. The park has zones of stay and of leisure, circuits of exercise for adults and seniors, children's green playground, pedestrian routes, canine park and the entire park has a green turf cover.
The design of the park, an investment of around 600 thousand euros, counted on the active participation of the population through ideas for the final project. (ref.2)

Situated next to Bebington railway station, the site is of biological importance within Wirral. This urban nature reserve was developed on a former railway sidings and is now an oasis of green tranquility in densely populated urban area; its industrial past has been put to good use as a home for wildlife (e.g. on the thin, nutrient there are now carpets of wild flowers, including wild carrot & occasional bee orchids). Up to 26 species of butterfly have been recorded here, with 18 species breeding on site - giving the park its rather apt name. (Ref. 1, 2)

New Ferry Butterfly Park has been awarded a Green Flag for the seventh year, which signifies that the space boasts the "highest possible environmental standards, is beautifully maintained and has excellent visitor facilities". (Ref. 12)

The entire neighbourhood area was calling for interventions, considering the conditions of decay of this part of the city. The initiative was requested by the residents of the area, in particular considering the state of plants and trees. What needs to be provided is a new surface of grass to replace the terrain on the ground to avoid problems of flooding and new plantations. The park has an important function in terms of mitigation of anthropogenic pressures, but also in terms of social value for the residents. (Ref.1.)

A new park was created through funding from the ERDF, as part of initiative “Building a Green and Accessible Urban Environment in Plovdiv”. The aim of the project was to provide a place for recreation and to help minimize the density of grey infrastructure in the central part of the city. Activities involved planting trees, as well as many shrubs and flowers. (Ref. 1)

Meadow orchards with fruit trees were an integral part of subsistence farming and form part of the cultural heritage of Wuppertal. To preserve and further develop these meadows as an important habitat for flora and fauna and promote their potential for sustainable consumption, 4 such meadows were sponsored, maintained and promoted by the city of Wuppertal in close collaboration with the working group for fruit meadows via events, communal harvesting activities and hands-on courses since 1999. Since 2015, these meadows have increasingly drawn the attention of "foodsharing" movements and during the nationwide research year "future town". (Ref. 1, 2, 6, 8). Enclosed between areas of intensive conventional agriculture and the federal motorway, the orchards as islands of biological diversity are important places of retreat and relaxation. (Ref. 5) Communal activities are also offered, such as the co-creation of “edible experience spaces”, joint harvesting and providing a base for additional social projects (Ref. 6).

This is a tree-planting initiative for the creation of a new forested area in the Parco Nord of Bologna. During the project lifetime (originally planned from2016-2018), a total of 4.000 new trees will be planted. The trees will be 2-2,5 meters high to give the appearance of a forested area inside the city (1).
As of 2019, the implementation of the forest is on hold and it depends on the construction of the so-called "Passante di Bologna", namely a highway with 3 high-speed routes. If the highway is approved (and there is enough funding) then the forest can also be implemented (6).

‘Slussen and a new water regulation plan for Lake Mälaren’ is part of the rebuilding of the city district Slussen (The Slussen Project) (Ref. 1). In connection with the rebuilding of Slussen, SMHI (Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute) was in 2007 commissioned by Stockholm City to review and propose a new regulatory strategy for the lake Mälaren (Ref. 2). A new regulation prevents floods, reducing the risk of saltwater entering the lake, benefiting the natural environment around Mälaren. Further effects will also benefit the ecosystem of the lake (Ref. 3).

Newcastle Helix - Science Central is Newcastle’s flagship project aiming to create a global centre for urban innovation. The 24-acre site has been at Newcastle’s industrial heart for 200 years. The site is transforming into an exemplar of urban sustainability, a ‘living laboratory’ where it will trial innovative urban technologies. (1, 2)
The Core is the first building on the 24-acre Newcastle Helix - Science Central development with a 27m-high green wall construction on its side functioning as a vertical garden of ivies, seagrass, thyme, primulas, euphorbia and nesting boxes (5)

The first new park in Sofia since 30 years was created, which had very positive reviews from the citizens of the capital. The park features attractive grey infrastructure, grass lawns, and more than 600 planted trees. It has become a popular place for recreation. The aims of the project were to improve the public environment so that it is more suitable for rest; create conditions for sport and recreation in an urban park environment; and to thereby improve the economical state of the region by attracting investments and new employment opportunities. (Ref. 1; Ref. 2; Ref. 3). Extension of a 6.6 acre water park and additional 18.2 acre green area was also completed in 2020 (Ref 8 and 9).