Urban Foundry is leading a Swansea-wide project to enhance and transform the urban environment using green infrastructure (or nature-based solutions). ‘Green the City’ is about making Swansea a greener, healthier place to live, work, and play by sharing knowledge, ideas and opportunities for everyone to benefit from a greener Swansea City.
Fran Rolfe, Natural Resources Wales, said, “Collaboration has been key to making Green the City successful. By working together, we’re creating a greener, healthier Swansea by designing urban spaces that naturally manage water – reducing flooding, improving water quality, and supporting ecosystems – so people and nature can thrive together. The response to the workshops has been incredible, showing just how much demand there is for nature-based solutions across the community.”
Cllr Andrew Stevens, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment & Infrastructure, said, “This project isn’t just about improving our environment – it’s also creating economic opportunities. Businesses are learning new skills, suppliers are exploring sustainable solutions, and local contractors are seeing the value of green infrastructure. The knowledge shared here will have a long-term impact, benefiting both people and the local economy.”
Kate McCabe, Urban Foundry, said, “Green the City training has identified new business opportunities for local companies; landscape gardeners are expanding what they can offer with green roofs and rain gardens, estates teams at Beacon Cymru are planning on adding green roofs to bin stores. And local residents are talking about how they can add greening to their flat roofs to add small garden space in the Sandfields.”
Why Green the City?
Swansea is a beautiful place, but like many cities, it faces challenges from climate change, pollution, and loss of green spaces. ‘Green the City’ is tackling these issues by integrating more nature into our urban environment. This means:
- Healthier communities – green spaces improve mental and physical well-being, reducing stress and encouraging outdoor activity.
- A better environment – trees, green roofs, and rain gardens help to clean our air, manage water quality and quantity effectively, and provide cooling during heatwaves.
- Thriving wildlife – more greenery supports biodiversity, giving bees, birds, and butterflies the habitats they need.
How can you get involved?
We’re working closely with a wide range of partners including Natural Resources Wales, Swansea Council, Pobl, Swansea Community Farm, The Environment Centre, Oriel Science, and Beacon Cymru to make this a lasting change. The real change happens when residents, businesses, investors and local contractors join in.
Through the Green the City training and events, you can learn how to introduce green solutions into your own space. Whether you’re a homeowner, a business owner, or are just interested in making Swansea greener.
Courses include:
- Installing a green roof
- More than just a roof! Sustainability and power with green innovation
- Maintenance of green roofs and walls
- Trees in an urban environment
- Greening your business
- Masterclass in sustainable urban drainage
For full details, visit www.greenthecity.co.uk
Greening Swansea Festival
On 18th March, the training culminates in a Greening Swansea Festival, celebrating the people and projects shaping the future of our city. Meet leading industry experts alongside our own local experts who are making change happen in the city, share ideas, and see how small changes can make a big impact.
Urban Foundry is an expert in nature-based solutions and are committed to creating a greener, healthier, and more sustainable Swansea for future generations.
Funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
