An educational forest garden brimming with biodiversity in the city

The project and its challenges

It is alarming to see biodiversity being lost in cities and the resulting threat to ecosystems. Soils are deteriorating, meaning that they can no longer be home to an abundance of flora and fauna. We therefore need to renature urban spaces. To do this, Le Lieu Utile (The Useful Place) has set up a city oasis in Bouguenais, a suburb of Nantes (Loire-Atlantique department, France).

By creating an educational forest garden with the help of children, families, and academic organisations and groups in the neighbourhood and wider city, this third place seeks to develop a relationship with nature that is more ecocentric, more sustainable and respectful for both humans and all living beings sharing their resources. The edible forest garden acts as a hub for a rich variety of biodiversity (flora, fauna and funga). This forest garden also aims to inspire similar projects, and serve as a source of information about nature that can be shared with others. Detailed guides and expansive educational kits are put together in order to gather and exchange knowledge on this forest that is teeming with biodiversity.

This forest garden has several branches to it. First of all, the association primarily focuses on strengthening the soil to make it more fertile. The edible forest garden is developed through permaculture, in order to provide meals to children attending Le Lieu Utile school. The garden is also used as an educational tool through workshops and volunteering events centred around planting, monitoring and maintenance. Additionally, it plays host to activities and training events about the city-based edible forest garden. The organisation behind the project seeks to create multicultural and intergenerational links between people. Finally, this forest garden requires daily management, which is carried out by specially trained teams on the ground.

The Maisons du Monde Foundation is supporting Le Lieu Utile with its goal of restoring its resilient educational food garden.

With the support of the Maisons du Monde Foundation, the project aims to help Le Lieu Utile to:

• Create an educational garden brimming with biodiversity in the city (planting fertilising species, developing vegetable production and acquiring gardening equipment).
• Transform the ecological forest garden into an educational model that inspires similar projects and serves as a source of information about nature that can be shared with others (school syllabus, acquiring educational materials, carrying out activities and training events).
• Provide support to and connect with diverse audiences through volunteering events and partnerships with schools.