‘We didn’t expect there would be so many benefits’
Dr. Zwierzchowska and her colleagues from the CONNECTING Nature project have been working with local authorities and preschools to design and build natural playgrounds that bring young children closer to nature.
As climate change intensifies, cities are increasingly vulnerable to extreme heat. Urban trees and green spaces cool neighbourhoods, improve air quality and offer places for communities to connect. When created together with local residents, natural playgrounds have the potential to transform entire districts—and could have even greater impact if scaled up across cities.
Cities designed for people
Green playgrounds combine traditional play structures with natural features such as sand mounds, fruit shrubs, flower beds and log paths. They are a practical nature-based solution for urban areas aiming to build resilience against rising temperatures and heavy rainfall. Beyond giving children a place to play and learn about ecosystems, these spaces support biodiversity and help absorb heat and water.
In Poznań, the first natural playgrounds were established through cooperation between preschools, the city administration, landscape architects, early-years specialists and the children themselves. Acting as pilot sites, they offered researchers a chance to collect data on environmental and social impacts. By monitoring air temperature, analysing land cover and surveying parents and pupils, the team developed a clearer understanding of how nature-based solutions can be effectively introduced and expanded elsewhere in the city.
“Investing in research and innovation through initiatives of this kind is an investment in Europe’s future, helping to build flourishing societies with people’s wellbeing at their heart.”
The findings have been striking. Children attending preschools with natural playgrounds now spend twice as much time outdoors, benefiting their physical and emotional wellbeing. In some neighbourhoods, parts of these green spaces have been opened to nearby residents—giving communities additional areas to relax, meet and enjoy nature.
Poznań has 264 preschools distributed across the city, making them ideal hubs for spreading these green oases more evenly. Currently, access to green areas varies significantly between districts, leaving residents of the dense urban centre with fewer natural spaces.
Growing a city-wide movement
Local residents responded positively to the initiative, though communication campaigns were essential to encourage broader participation. Public meetings, conferences and online outreach helped raise awareness and bring more people on board.
“We didn’t expect so much interest,” said Agnieszka Osipiuk, a member of Dr. Zwierzchowska’s team. Many parents now actively choose preschools with natural playgrounds, and the city council—impressed by early results—has committed to supporting, co-financing and promoting the development of additional sites across Poznań.
This rapid spread is exactly what Dr. Zwierzchowska hopes to see on a wider European scale. “It’s important to share best practices among cities implementing nature-based solutions,” she said. Collaborations with experts from Trinity College Dublin, the University of A Coruña and the University of East London have been crucial in enabling knowledge exchange and strengthening the initiative.
The outcomes are clear: investment in research and innovation not only supports environmental resilience but also helps build healthier, more liveable communities focused on human wellbeing.
Science and innovation: Europe’s hidden strength
This research forms part of the EU’s broader mission to find new ways to confront climate change, protect oceans and waterways, and fight cancer. By bringing countries together, the EU enables shared funding, coordinated global action, and the use of local expertise—allowing researchers to tackle challenges that no single nation could address alone.
EU investment makes international collaboration possible, ensuring that science continues to drive progress for society and the planet.
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