Bordeaux is indeed a beautiful city, our local “big smoke” for the past ten years as you know … It’s worth noting how much better French culture is at developing and maintaining its public spaces, right down to the tiniest commune.
Yes it's certainly very noticeable - the public spaces were much nicer, everyone just seemed more relaxed and having fun, as opposed to an undercurrent of violence in UK cities
Great pics and a fascinating read - it would be amazing if UK towns and cities took a similar approach. And congrats on the 20 years, hope you had a lovely time!
Thanks Rich, yes we had a really lovely time, it’s a great city. I hadn’t been properly before. I’d love to see places in the UK taking the same approach.
Love this article Jack. I have a range of climbing plants waiting in pots for me to decide where to plant them. The rendered walls of the house needs painting, but perhaps they will
be as happy with their new green plant ‘wallpaper.’ They have all waited too long so you have inspired me to find wall and tree hosts for them this week. Thank you.
Definitely worth getting them in the ground somewhere, just saves all the watering :) You can use wall wires with detachable hooks allowing you to lower them and paint.
That's brilliant. There's an amazing heat map of London showing how much cooler the parks are, and greenery is going to be essential in urban areas to help combat overheating in future.
I love climbers on old buildings, and cities embracing nature. Glad to see the municipality supporting this, too. The movement is growing across Europe.
Hello Jack, Thank you for the lovely updates. In many cities in France they clean the pavements with high pressure hoses every morning. Maybe this is how the plants are getting water despite the naturally dry climate in Bordeaux.
Hi Marie-Louise, yes that could be helping them a little, though from what I could see the water drains off into roads or drains with little route for that run off to sink down into the ground.
We were in Bordeaux at the end of May last year, we really noticed the greenery around the city but it never occurred to me that this might have been orchestrated deliberately. In particular, there was trachelospermum jasminoides in flower all over the place it seems. One evening walking in the direction of the cathedral there were masses of swifts, amazing to see. One of our favourite places that we've visited.
Bordeaux is indeed a beautiful city, our local “big smoke” for the past ten years as you know … It’s worth noting how much better French culture is at developing and maintaining its public spaces, right down to the tiniest commune.
Yes it's certainly very noticeable - the public spaces were much nicer, everyone just seemed more relaxed and having fun, as opposed to an undercurrent of violence in UK cities
Great pics and a fascinating read - it would be amazing if UK towns and cities took a similar approach. And congrats on the 20 years, hope you had a lovely time!
Thanks Rich, yes we had a really lovely time, it’s a great city. I hadn’t been properly before. I’d love to see places in the UK taking the same approach.
Love this article Jack. I have a range of climbing plants waiting in pots for me to decide where to plant them. The rendered walls of the house needs painting, but perhaps they will
be as happy with their new green plant ‘wallpaper.’ They have all waited too long so you have inspired me to find wall and tree hosts for them this week. Thank you.
Thank you
Definitely worth getting them in the ground somewhere, just saves all the watering :) You can use wall wires with detachable hooks allowing you to lower them and paint.
That's brilliant. There's an amazing heat map of London showing how much cooler the parks are, and greenery is going to be essential in urban areas to help combat overheating in future.
Thanks Rachel, it was very apparent how much cooler areas with plants were
Totally inspiring. Thank you and bravo Bordeaux!
Delightful changes to add to a city, thanks for this share
I'm looking forward to part two!
I love climbers on old buildings, and cities embracing nature. Glad to see the municipality supporting this, too. The movement is growing across Europe.
It was lovely to see, I love seeing cities and old buildings like this too. It was done really well all over, very impressive.
I highly recommend visiting Haarlem, in the Netherlands. The whole town is filled with greenery.
Hello Jack, Thank you for the lovely updates. In many cities in France they clean the pavements with high pressure hoses every morning. Maybe this is how the plants are getting water despite the naturally dry climate in Bordeaux.
Hi Marie-Louise, yes that could be helping them a little, though from what I could see the water drains off into roads or drains with little route for that run off to sink down into the ground.
P.S. Look forward to reading part 2 🙂
An inspiring article. They certainly are ahead of us on the continent in terms of greening towns and cities.
Thanks also for the lovely photos. I would love to visit Bordeaux!
Yes hopefully the UK can replicate this. It’s a worthwhile place to visit, and a good gateway to the area.
I love your attention to detail Jack and the beauty you find everywhere. I always find your posts and photos inspiring, thank you!
Thanks Deborah, I really enjoy sharing these kinds of observations :)
We were in Bordeaux at the end of May last year, we really noticed the greenery around the city but it never occurred to me that this might have been orchestrated deliberately. In particular, there was trachelospermum jasminoides in flower all over the place it seems. One evening walking in the direction of the cathedral there were masses of swifts, amazing to see. One of our favourite places that we've visited.