According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report, climate crisis is a threat for both social and economic development of the world. EU research indicates that 70% of Polish respondents consider climate change a major problem, while 71% agree that EU citizens can benefit from adjusting to negative climate change effects. Bielsko-Biała is one of 44 cities in Poland taking part in the Urban Adaptation Plan initiative. Within this project, cities develop plans to adapt to both observed and predicted climate changes.
Addressing the above issues, we run a series of meetings on the establishment of educational gardens in Bielsko-Biała which will engage inhabitants in climate and environmental protection initiatives. We organised consultations on this idea inviting representatives of the City Hall and owners of the planned venues.
The first garden was established on a Jewish cemetery wasteland, in cooperation with the Jewish Religious Community and the City Hall. The second one was created around an antique Galeria Bielska BWA villa, where we combined eco education with artistic initiatives. We run four workshops for the local community, attended by experts to work jointly on the concept of both spaces. We organised a cycle of nine classes for youths, devoted to climate change and the protection of biodiversity, and combined with actual work in both gardens. Furthermore, we organised four educational events for the city inhabitants, within which we planted plants and built shelters for animals. We also made an educational movie popularising the results of the project and presenting good practices of engaging inhabitants in creating example gardens and of urban cooperation aiming at adaptation to climate change and protection of biodiversity.
With this project, we managed to engage nearly 400 representatives of various social groups in the city to jointly establish the gardens. We continue our work in gardens, serving eco education on climate and environmental protection.
The project contributed to signing a contract for a Mystery Garden between the city of Bielsko-Biała, Jewish Religious Commune, and the Gaja Club.