How can schoolyards become vibrant spaces where children and nature flourish together?
This session, organised by IUCN Europe within the framework of the Biodiverse Cities project, explores how European cities are transforming school grounds into biodiverse, climate-resilient, and child-friendly environments. Featuring inspiring case studies from several European cities, the session will take you behind the scenes of schoolyard transformation - from early ideas and motivations to hands-on implementation. Discover how municipalities, educators, and communities are working together across sectors, and how children themselves are actively engaged in co-designing greener spaces that support their wellbeing. Speakers will share practical experiences, innovative co-design approaches with pupils, and honest reflections on challenges and lessons learned along the way. By putting children at the centre - an often overlooked group in urban planning - these initiatives reveal new pathways for creating healthier, more resilient cities.
English