Background

In an age marked by the climate crisis and a growing disconnection between people and the natural world, urban rewilding – restoring parks, gardens, and underused areas – not only supports biodiversity and helps mitigate the impacts of climate change but also enriches the social and cultural fabric of our communities. Wilder, more resilient urban environments canprovide spaces that improve well-being, foster a renewed sense of coexistence between people and nature, and deliver tangible benefits for mental and physical health.

The Project
The Educational Gardens project, led by Faremo Foresta association involves three schools in Florence, Grosseto and Elba Island, between October 2025 and October 2026. It is an environmental and educational initiative to rewild schools by creating miniature native woodlands (about 25 m²) in playgrounds. The woodland is introduced to students as a ‘new class of companions’, fostering respect for trees as living beings rather than objects. Four seasonal lessons will be delivered, covering seeds, tree behaviour, biodiversity, and practical forest stewardship.

Throughout the year, the project actively involves students and teachers, promoting environmental education and ecological awareness as they maintain and observe the forest, learning about cooperation, biodiversity, and resilience.
Its main goals are to increase vegetative cover, regenerate soil, improve microclimates, and enhance biodiversity through the planting of native and bioindicator plant species. The project includes seed collection and preservation, biodiversity monitoring, and hands-on training in sustainable land care as well as fostering a sense of shared responsibility for the planet. In this way, urban rewilding becomes not just an ecological strategy, but also a catalyst for civic engagement
and cultural regeneration.