Adaptation to climate change through the development of green and blue infrastructure in Gryfino

On 22th of December 2021, the Mayor of the Town and Commune of Gryfino – Mieczysław Sawaryn, signed a grant contract for the implementation of green and blue infrastructure in Gryfino.

Adopt a tree

The tree adoption program is addressed to the inhabitants of the Gryfino Commune and aims to teach responsibility for public green areas, in particular greenery care.

Gryfino’s needs and environmental conditions

In March will take place the first workshop meeting with the project partner: Verkis hf. The joint work of experts from Poland and Iceland will be concerned to a topic of understanding the local needs and environmental conditions of our city.

Investment activities

  • Development of the Love Hill

    This task complements the work carried out under the project “Revalorization of the City Park in Gryfino and the Love Hill and the area at Opolska Street and Kołłątaja Street, which was carried out by the Gryfino Commune in 2018.

    The scope of the task includes:

    • cleaning the area of invasive tree species in order to protect the old tree stand and improve the natural bioretention, in the area from the Square of Lovers to the Square of Meetings,
    • construction of terrain stairs profiled in the ground with a wooden balustrade on the slope from Armii Krajowej Street,
    • making a railing at the entrance path to the Lovers Square,
    • installation of bicycle stands on the Lovers’ Square and on the Meeting Square,
    • installation of an information board and wooden signpost.
  • Development of the “Opolanka” recreational area

    The development of this area is a continuation of the project from 2018, during which a new recreational area was created from wasteland, which the residents called Opolanka. In 2022, Opolanka was equipped with elements of small architecture aimed at ecological education of children and youth. New tree plantings are aimed to reduce the “urban heat island” effect.

    As part of the task:

    • 10 small-leaved lime trees were planted along Opolska Street;
    • a pergola in a steel structure was made with the planting of vines;

    •  

      educational tables, bicycle racks and a sandpit were installed.

  • Eko corner – a place of meetings and ecological education

    The subject of the task is to create a meeting place and ecological education place at Wodnika Street for the inhabitants of the Gryfino Commune and people visiting the “Laguna” Water Center. The creation of a new educational and recreational place is intended to raise social awareness in the field of climate change.

    The subject of the project is:

    • cutting down 11 diseased (or invasive) trees and planting a total of 62 highly hydrophilic trees and shrubs with a high water bioretention potential;
    • creating a place for ecological education: creating shelters, pergolas, tables with benches, educational boards, a playground and a sensory garden for children;
    • installation of a water curtain;
    • installation of lighting from lamps powered by wind and sun energy;
    • creating pedestrian routes from permeable surfaces.
  • Creating a city pocket park (by city sports hall)

    The planned planting and laying of a lawn is to complete the land development process around the sports and entertainment hall in Gryfino. The tree species used – small-leaved lime ‘Böhlje’ is to introduce a large shaded area in the planned area in the future and is a honey-bearing and insect-friendly tree.

    The task includes:

    • removal of 7 trees due to their poor phytosanitary condition;
    • planting 7 trees from highly hydrophilic species with high water bioretention potential;
    • establishing a lawn with a total area of 1350 m2.
  • Development of city waterfront

    The project aims are to introduce multi-storey and varied vegetation on the Gryfino waterfront. The used species of a plants will introduce a significant shaded area in the future.The introduced variety of willows will introduce an additional sensory effect. Coniferous bushes will decorate one part of the waterfront. Perennials and ornamental grass will retain the natural style of the opposite bank of the Oder. All selected plant species used in the project are honey-bearing and insect-friendly.

    As part of the task, it is planned to:

    • transplanting 7 old trees to create more favorable conditions for growth;
    • planting 23 trees of highly hydrophilic species with high water bioretention potential (small-leaved linden, weeping willows);
    • planting 30 shrubs (mountain pine), 1050 perennials (sedum), 240 ornamental bulbs (ornamental garlic);
    • establishing a lawn on area 500 m2.
  • Create a floral city meadow

    The land development in the area by the national road No. 31 is aimed at transforming the wasteland into a large meadow planted with honey plants with hotels for bees. The used tree species are native: small-leaved linden and autumn-leaved maples “Variegatum”. Additionally, it is planned to introduce silver birches. All introduced trees species are honey-bearing and resistant to unfavorable weather and soil conditions.

    The task includes:

    • preparation of the area for planting;
    • tree plantings (14 small-leaved limes, 10 common maples and 20 silver birches);
    • creating a flower meadow on an area of 5000 m2,
    • installation of 2 large insect hotels.
  • Creating a district pocket garden (by Kochanowskiego street)

    As a result of the activities, a new green area will be created around the retention reservoir in the single-family housing estate. The designed vegetation are extensive so undemanding in terms of water requirements and the place of planting. Additionally, due to the designed hydrophilic and maintaining moisture in the soil plants, natural bioretention will be an additional function of the terrain.

    As part of this task, the following was planned:

    • planting 18 trees of highly hydrophilic species with high water bioretention potential: 11 hornbeams and 7 silver birches around the retention reservoir;
    • planting a total of 1950 perennials (400 mossy sage and 1550 catnip);
    • planting 900 seedlings of grass autumn selseria;
    • planting 80 bulbs of ornamental garlic;installation of an insect hotels.
  • Creating honey plants garden (by Fredry street)

    The implementation of the planned scope of investments will contribute to strengthening the resistance to the negative effects of climate changes by increasing the green areas in the city (the so-called green infrastructure) supporting the process of airing the city and reducing the effect of the “urban heat island”.

    As part of this task, the following was planned:

    • planting 11 trees of highly hydrophilic species with a high potential for water bioretention (golden chain);
    • planting a yellow flower meadow on area of 500 m2.
  • Development of a municipal greenery by Mazowiecka and Mazurska streets

    The implementation of the planned scope of investments will contribute to strengthening the resistance to the negative effects of climate changes by increasing of green areas in the city (the so-called green infrastructure) supporting the process of airing the city and reducing the effect of the “urban heat island”. All selected plant species used in the project are honey-bearing and insect-friendly.

    As part of this task, the following was planned:

    • cleaning the area (removing 230 m2 of geotextile),
    • planting 25 highly hydrophilic trees with a high potential for water bioretention (small-leaved linden),
    • planting 736 of bushes (16 – creeping juniper, 720 Japanese grass),
    • planting 586 of perennials (sedum plant) and 876 little bunny feathers.
  • Educational corners in Aquapark Laguna

    As part of the project, two spaces functioning in the facility of Aquapark Laguna were developed: a community garden was created in the “Laguna” patio and an educational corner in the ticket office hall. The created places will be used to environmental education and integration of residents.

    In the ticket office hall of Aquapark Laguna, an educational corner was created for the youngest residents: wooden furniture with arcade and interactive games on topics related to environmental protection was installed. Here are distributed information materials related to climate changes.

    On the patio have been installed wooden garden gazebos, which in the summer time will be used as a training and meeting place for residents during workshops related to ecology and pro-ecological awareness.

Installation of rainwater tanks at the Nursery in Gryfino

As part of the project Adaptation to climate change through the development of green and blue infrastructure in Gryfino, 4 above-ground rainwater tanks were installed at the Municipal Nursery in Gryfino. Through this investment, rainwater flowing from the roof of the building will be collected in order to care for the greenery surrounding the nursery.

Collecting and using rainwater by creating the so-called blue infrastructure is an important aspect of the actions that must be taken to counteract the effects of climate changes.