CORP – Competence Center of Urban and Regional Planning
Abstract
This paper explores the functions of existing and emerging forms of urban gardening for European cities in times of social, economic, and climate changes with special emphasis on ageing societies. It is based on two research backgrounds: On the one hand it presents research results about living preferences of aged persons conducted by the ILS (Research Institute for Regional and Urban Development) and the IÖR (Leibniz Institute of Ecological Urban and Regional Development) in four German cities, thus exploring the needs of an ageing society where besides other factors the access to green space and the social functions of urban gardens can play an important role. On the other hand it presents results of a literature review about the social, economic and ecological functions of urban gardening in European cities and first results of the current COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) Action on the topic of “Urban Allotment Gardens in European Cities”
