Renaturation of Schools in Nouvelle-Aquitaine: A Step Towards Climate Resilience and Student Well-being
In the wake of the Néo Terra roadmap, the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region is placing a significant emphasis on the renaturation of school establishments to create pockets of freshness, enhance student well-being, and combat climate change. This initiative is part of a broader effort to green public spaces, with a primary focus on educational institutions.
With a commitment to demineralize and vegetate, the region aims to increase green spaces within the schools under its purview as part of the overall greening of public spaces. Allocating an annual budget of one million euros to renature spaces often dominated by concrete and asphalt, the objective is to establish areas for student refreshment and conviviality, contributing to a better community living experience.
One exemplary case is the transformation of the Suzanne-Valadon high school in Limoges into a 'school-garden.' Spearheaded by the school's principal, this 80,000 euro project converted a disused basketball court into a natural space. The swift realization of this project, completed within six months, exemplifies the region's commitment to the Néo Terra roadmap's priorities.
Collaborating with the region's green infrastructure manager, the project involved de-impermeabilizing the space with topsoil and planting. An architect specializing in landscaping designed the new school environment, prioritizing local and robust plant species for optimized climate adaptation. The resulting 'urban garden,' endorsed by the student council, garnered widespread support from the educational community and sparked interest from other schools.
This initiative serves as a key element in the fight against climate change, offering up to a 10% thermal gain in highly urbanized areas. Renaturing school spaces not only contributes to environmental sustainability but also serves as a source of pride and motivation for the school teams involved. As more schools express interest in similar projects, the region plans to prioritize those facing a nature deficit, furthering the impact of renaturation efforts in the region.
