Photo: Michał Strokowski
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Dictionary of urban terms – green revitalisation by Gathered a k Agniesz k Osipiu
Floating gardens are light, floating islands which create habitat and filter water. The main purpose of the floating gardens is to introduce greenery to the city centres, increase their biodiversity, enhance local population, create an ecological niche and filter the air and water. Floating gardens provide conditions for developing unique ecosystems in cities. The vegetation comprises mainly local species. The gardens grow thanks to the seeds transported by the wind and birds. Natural playground is a place which combines the elements traditionally used in children’s playgrounds with the elements found in the natural environment: natural sand, earth or grass surface, green elements such as hills and paths with naturally occurring tree boughs. There are also specially-created elements encouraging playing with live plants such as bush mazes, live wicker huts and paths made of tree trunks and logs for physical games. Children can play there freely using sand, water and other natural resources. They can also grow plants and observe insects. Moreover, there are elements typical for gardens such as benches, arbors and tables which may be used for relaxation as well as for activities with children. Some elements may be designed individually and specifically for a particular playground. These may be used in many different ways for example as dais or walls for interactive games. Open gardens are an example of the use of the existing green areas belonging to particular institutions or private owners and opening them, to a greater or lesser extent, to the inhabitants. Not only local inhabitants, but also non-government organisations, community councils, people visiting nearby institutions and others may engage in them.
Pocket park is a small park open to the public. The maximal size of this green area is 5,000 m2. They are often established at the initiative of local residents. Nature-based solutions (NBS) are solutions inspired by nature which are cost-effective (economically productive). They are also ecologically, economically and socially beneficial and support climate change adaptation. Examples of NBSs: street greenery, parks, urban forests, pocket gardens, natural playgrounds, open gardens, floating gardens, rain gardens, community gardens, green walls, green roofs. Nature-based enterprises (NBE) comprise companies and initiatives which base their work on nature either directly (planning, revitalisation) or indirectly (monitoring, consulting, designing). Examples of NBEs: companies committed to sustainable forest management, gardening companies, architects and designers, companies providing green infrastructure products and services (for example green roofs, green walls), non-government institutions which support for example the management of natural urban forests, companies monitoring and assessing the consequences of the influence of NBSs. BIT
