Site visits: green walls, parks, and schools

Our visit took us to several impressive NbS implementations. We explored green walls and revitalised open spaces in a local social housing complex, visited the Neofite Park (Il bosco delle Neofite), a green public space funded through a unique art auction, and toured a large school complex where new green interventions are planned.

Data-driven urban planning

We also learned more about AIRQino, Prato’s environmental sensor network developed by the National Research Council of Italy, that provides real-time data on air quality. The state of the environment and air quality will be monitored before, during, and after reforestation interventions, with an ex-ante and ex-post approach able to quantify the benefits of the interventions. The AIRQino will provide open data and constitute a low-cost observational network model, which can also be replicated in other areas and contexts and can also be managed by the citizens themselves or by other associations in the area. This system plays a key role in supporting evidence-based planning and monitoring the city’s environmental health.

Tools for transformation

• The Regenerative Index, developed by project partner POR, offers a comprehensive view of urban health across seven areas, including air quality, vegetation cover, and social inclusion. Prato will be the next city to calculate this index to guide future actions and track progress.
  
• In collaboration with Queen’s University Belfast, advanced climate modelling is helping the city understand local heat dynamics and identify priority areas for intervention, essential input for the development of Prato’s Heat Action Plan.
  
• Researchers from the University of Antwerp introduced a suite of ecosystem services models that help cities like Prato assess trade-offs and optimise benefits such as carbon storage and cooling through thoughtful urban greening.
  

Financing the future

Our discussions also explored innovative funding models, including public-private partnerships, which will be key to sustaining and scaling green infrastructure projects in Prato and beyond.

Testing the UPSURGE Lighthouse/UrbanbyNature NbS services 

We had a session guided by the consultant Umberto Pernice to test and discuss the concrete NbS services (i.e. assessment & preparation, planning & design, implementation & acceleration, monitoring & reporting) that the UPSURGE Lighthouse/UrbanbyNature platform will provide in the coming months to European cities. Prato provided valuable insights based on their own insights. 

The UPSURGE team is proud to support Prato in their transition toward a greener, healthier, and more inclusive urban future. We are excited to see how these initiatives evolve and to bring these lessons to other cities across Europe.

The solar installation supports a key demonstration site within the UPSURGE framework, which seeks to explore and advance innovative approaches to climate mitigation in urban environments. By providing a reliable, standalone renewable energy source, this off-grid system contributes to Belfast’s broader sustainability objectives and the city’s transition toward a low-carbon future.

This installation not only reduces reliance on conventional energy sources but also highlights the practical applications of solar technology in supporting environmentally responsible infrastructure.

To learn more about the project and see the system in action, please view the video shared by Clover Energy Systems:
Watch on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/clover-energy-systems_we-recently-installed-a-36kwp-off-grid-solar-activity-7351166238112243746-mxXu?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAM9IYoBCbgXYcO6rGlKxdqPFfiftEDAPw4

As the seasons progressed, the raingardens began to bloom in stages:

• May: The wood spurges (Euphorbia amygdaloides) emerged, with their yellowish-green umbels creating fresh bursts of color.
• June: The purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), growing nearly a meter tall, brought a vibrant splash of purple to the nutrient-rich soil.
• July: The Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida ‘Goldsturm’) became the clear star of the season, with its golden-yellow blooms standing out across the gardens.

In addition to these eye-catching flowers, grasses such as orange sedge (Carex testacea ‘Prairie Fire’) and tufted hair-grass (Deschampsia cespitosa) provide a continuous backdrop, ensuring the raingardens remain visually striking year-round.

The raingardens are not only an aesthetic enhancement but also play a vital environmental role. Designed to prevent soil erosion during heavy rain, the plants’ dense roots anchor the soil, while their ability to shade and cool the soil in dry, sunny conditions creates a unique microclimate. This natural approach to stormwater management contributes to the district’s resilience against both floods and droughts.

Throughout the hot and dry summer months, the City Manager’s staff has diligently irrigated the raingardens weekly, and residents have also played an active role in maintaining these green spaces. Their contributions are greatly appreciated, and the thriving gardens stand as a testament to the power of community engagement and nature-based solutions.

Want to visit?
Explore these beautiful raingardens in the heart of Budapest by finding your nearest one on the interactive map:
Find your nearest raingarden  https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1zmGrLVbzc-qj6X5ywrua3mLF0-hI3Gc&ll=47.42492942946925%2C19.19676384999999&z=13

The session featured two insightful talks by distinguished experts:

• Dr. Tomasz Jurys, MD, delivered a lecture titled “Why Greenery Helps in Recovery,” outlining the significant role that natural environments play in the healing process.
• Dr. Tomasz Muller, with his presentation “Physical Activity in Urban Environments in the Age of Climate Change,” discussed how engaging with green spaces can support physical health and overall well-being, especially in urban settings.

Participants were introduced to a range of scientifically supported benefits of greenery, including:

• Stress Reduction: Nature has been shown to significantly reduce stress and promote relaxation.
• Blood Pressure & Breathing Regulation: Green environments help stabilize vital health functions.
• Noise Mitigation: Green spaces absorb sound, providing a quieter, more peaceful atmosphere.
• Healing Support: Exposure to nature aids in the recovery process, both physically and mentally.
• Visual Benefits: Even simply looking at greenery through a window can provide a calming effect on the mind.

This lecture emphasized the integral role nature plays in not only enhancing our quality of life but also promoting recovery and long-term health. We extend our thanks to Ochojec Hospital for their involvement and to all participants for their active engagement. Together, we are raising awareness of the importance of nature in both daily life and the healing journey.

This call, launched under the UPSURGE project, aimed to raise awareness and promote nature-based solutions in urban environments. When we announced it, we weren’t sure what kind of response to expect. Unlike previous programs—where residents received physical items like rain barrels or compost bins—this initiative invited participants to allow City Maintainer teams into their private gardens to construct functional raingardens, often requiring the use of machinery. It was a completely new approach.

To build trust and spread the word, Budapest engaged directly with residents at community events such as City Days and the Bikers’ Breakfast, and they organized a dedicated workshop for personal consultation and Q&A. Slowly but steadily, applications started to come in. In the end, we only had to turn down a few, simply due to unsuitable garden conditions.

Meanwhile, 25 public raingardens were also established across the city to serve as visible examples. Fortunately, the mild winter did not delay construction, and the rainy spring provided ideal growing conditions for the newly planted vegetation.

As the seasons progressed, we asked raingarden owners to share photos—and they’ve been doing so with pride. Many of the gardens planted in late autumn or early spring are now bursting with life. Initially dormant perennials, delayed by cool temperatures and night frosts, have since bloomed beautifully. The transformation has been striking, and the images speak for themselves.

In addition to the residential gardens, similar installations have also been created at district institutions, which can be visited during opening hours (in line with each institution’s visitor rules).

Want to explore?

Click [Click HERE for a map] to view an interactive map of all public and institutional raingardens in the district. If you’re nearby, we encourage you to stop by and take a look. In fact, public raingardens are available for adoption—a great way for residents to contribute to the upkeep of these valuable green spaces.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who participated and helped bring more greenery and climate resilience to Budapest’s neighborhoods. Let’s keep growing—together!

Held at the Friends of Field community garden, the workshop gave students the chance to connect with nature through fun and educational activities.

Students took part in a Bioblitz treasure hunt, where they explored the garden’s rich habitats, discovered insects, plants, and pollinators, and learned how even small green spaces can support urban wildlife. This hands-on activity helped spark curiosity about the natural world and highlighted the ongoing habitat enhancement efforts being carried out on-site through the UPSURGE project.

Students also got their hands dirty with seedball and seedstrip activities – learning how to grow their own wildflowers and vegetables and support pollinators right in their own communities.

One of the most hands-on and creative parts of the day was the planter-making session. With guidance from the amazing team at Belfast Tool Library, pupils rolled up their sleeves and built their very own wooden planters from recycled materials

Then came a burst of colour and creativity with a natural indigo dyeing workshop, led by Sue Bamford from Tools for Solidarity. Students watched as plain linen transformed into beautiful shades of blue using plant-based dye – a magical process that blended science, art, and heritage

The event was all about promoting sustainability, wellbeing, and hands-on learning, and we’re so grateful to everyone who made it possible.

Special thanks to the Green Fund from Sustainability at Queen’s University and the Belfast City Council Climate Team for their support.

On May 22, 2025 during the International Day of Biodiversity, Instytut Ekologii Terenów Uprzemysłowionych organised a meeting with the amazing students from Nasza Dobra Szkoła as part of the Katowice PlaceLab activities under UPSURGE project.

Special thanks to Prof. Edyta Sierka from the University of Silesia – expert of Katowice Competency Group, who gave an inspiring presentation on nature-based solutions (NBS) – with a special focus on green roofs, which are transforming urban landscapes worldwide.

The students dove deep into:

• The types, construction, and functions of green roofs
• Global examples of green infrastructure
• Hands-on activities including:
  • Building a model green roof in the schoolyard
  • Experiments on water retention
  • Analyzing soil mixtures
  • Exploring the importance of urban biodiversity

The enthusiasm, curiosity, and teamwork were truly inspiring. It’s clear that young minds are ready to build a greener future — one rooftop at a time!

A huge THANK YOU to the students, teachers, and parents for your incredible energy and support!

With the excessive use of Earth’s resources and rising pollution levels, human activity has begun to disrupt the natural balance to such an extent that nature can no longer regenerate itself in real time. This anthropogenic degradation of the environment must therefore be addressed through equally anthropogenic regenerative actions.

Inspired by the work of the Footprint Data Foundation (FoDaFo)¹, which maintains a system for calculating national ecological footprints and bio-capacity, the idea of developing a Regenerative Index was conceived. This Index encompasses seven indicative domains and is designed to reflect the degree to which an area supports environmental regeneration.

The Regenerative Index refers specifically to an anthropogenic regenerative index, representing a framework created by humans to assist nature in restoring balance in areas that have been heavily degraded. The Index rates an area’s regenerative status on a scale from 1 to 10. For example, a score of 3,4 indicates that the area is at 34% of the way toward achieving natural environmental balance.

The Regenerative Index assesses performance across the following seven interconnected domains (factors):

1. Air quality and corresponding pollutants
2. Spatial structure of the urban setting
3. Land properties and land designation
4. Regenerative governance approaches
5. Ecosystem services and biodiversity status
6. Participatory development and social impact
7. Gender sensitivity consideration

Each domain is evaluated independently, and a weighted average is used to determine the final Regenerative Index score. The Index is designed to reflect conditions over a full calendar year, ensuring seasonal factors are accounted for.

Figures 2–4 display the initial Regenerative Index scores for participating UPSURGE cities².

The UPSURGE cities’ Regenerative Index calculations form the basis for the development of Urban Insetting Protocols, which provide a framework for how cities can restore and balance their relationships with the ecosystems they depend upon.

The vision of Urban Insetting Protocols is to achieve the natural balance of the environment through regenerative urban (re)development in thematic areas aligned with the Regenerative Index’s seven assessment domains. Table 1 outlines the strategic and operational goals linked to each domain.

Table 1. Urban Insetting Protocols goals by thematic areas

The analysis of each city’s overall Regenerative Index score, along with the performance of each individual domain and their interrelations, informs the prioritisation of actions within the Urban Insetting Protocols. Based on the diagnostic outcomes, cities are encouraged to revise or develop strategic plans and implement targeted measures.

In the case of BP18, for example, recommended measures include the expansion of green areas (thus improving the Regenerative Index factor measuring spatial structure of the urban setting) and in particular long-term planting of shrubs and trees, critical for sequestering locally generated CO₂ (thus improving the Regenerative Index factor measuring regenerative governance approaches).

To monitor progress, annual Regenerative Index calculations are recommended. This helps assess the effectiveness of Urban Insetting Protocols and supports the ongoing refinement of actions based on achieved results.

Ultimately, the Regenerative Index serves both as a diagnostic and motivational tool, empowering cities to make evidence-based decisions and drive continuous improvement. Using the Regenerative Index as a monitoring tool can help bridge the gap between urban realities and strategic guidance, enabling cities to align their planning instruments with regenerative development principles. By measuring the territorial consequences of planning policies, the Index can be integrated into spatial planning practice as a central monitoring tool that strengthens the strategic capacity of spatial planning and supports its contribution to regenerative urban transformation. To increase its impact, the Regenerative Index should be actively promoted among and further developed with urban planners and policymakers to ensure its relevance and effectiveness.

1. https://www.fodafo.org/why-fodafo.html, accessed 5 December 2024. ︎
2. The shown Regenerative Index calculations do not yet include the revised calculation of the sustainable mobility sub-factor. Additionally, BP18’s calculations for the Factor of Participatory Development and Social Impact, as well as the Factor of Gender Sensitivity Consideration, need to be corrected. ︎

On April 8–9, 2025, all the Partners participated in the #UPSURGE Project Group Meeting in Budapest, Hungary, which was a good time to verify the achievements of all work packages and reflect on the expected project’s results. During the two-day meeting, all tasks and deliverables were discussed, showcasing what has already been achieved, while also identifying challenges and clarifying uncertainties. Partners actively engaged in discussions and took part in a workshop focused on the exchange of experiences from the Place Labs in five demonstration cities.

On the first day, all pillars of the European Regenerative Urban Lighthouse and the activities of the Urban Living Labs were thoroughly discussed. The current status of the implementation of nature-based solutions (NBS) in Belfast, Breda, Budapest, Katowice, and Maribor was also presented. Later, all participants took part in a site visit to observe the implementation of public and private rain gardens in Budapest’s 18th district.

The second day began with a discussion on project management and the status of tasks related to communication and dissemination of the project’s achievements and results. Other work packages were also analysed, including the use of measurement sensors, digitalization within the project, mobile applications, as well as various tools developed under the project that are intended to support the regenerative transformation of cities.

Several fruitful discussions and highly productive workshops moved the project activities and expectations forward. We are now more than sure how much more work is ahead of us, so full of energy we will face the final stage of our project. We would like to thank our Budapest Partners BURST and BP18 for your excellent organisation and extraordinary hospitality. It was a great pleasure for all of us to see by ourselves the effect of rain gardens’ implementation in a beautiful city space of Budapest.

Watch a short recap of the meeting on our YouTube channel: