Poznań is fast becoming a model for sustainable urban living, thanks to a growing network of green initiatives that combine ecological responsibility with strong community engagement. They also build stronger neighbourhoods, empower citizens, and make urban spaces more pleasant to live in. In April and May 2025, three key efforts are taking centre stage: Transform Your Courtyard (Odmień swoje podwórko), Small Retention (Mała retencja), and the city’s annual spring tree planting campaign.
Reviving Shared Spaces: The “Transform Your Courtyard” Programme
Now in its 16th edition, Transform Your Courtyard invites residents from six central Poznań districts (Stare Miasto, Główna, Ostrów Tumski–Śródka–Zawady–Komandoria, Wilda, Św. Łazarz, and Jeżyce) to breathe new life into neglected communal spaces. To take part, teams of at least three people submit ideas for greening courtyards or shared areas—like bits of streets, squares, or housing estate corners.
The initiative has two stages: a design phase, with workshops on 30–31 May at Brama Poznania, and a hands-on phase in September, where the best ideas are brought to life using materials donated by the city. Up to five selected teams will receive material grants worth up to 5,000 PLN—plants, tools, and elements of small urban architecture—to carry out their projects in the field.
The total prize pool is 25,000 PLN. Applications, including photos and a completed form, must be submitted by 19 May 2025 via email to rewitalizacja@um.poznan.pl. Over the years, revamped courtyards with native plants, shaded seating areas, and gathering spots have improved both social cohesion and local ecosystems, underlining the importance of green initiatives in Poznań.
Small Scale, Big Impact: The “Small Retention” Programme
The Small Retention programme has made a big difference since launching in 2021. This initiative helps residents, housing cooperatives, and institutions capture and reuse rainwater—helping to prevent flooding and support urban gardens.
The goal is to ensure that water doesn’t run off into the sewage system but stays in the area where it fell and is reused—for example, for watering gardens.
the city explains on its website.
This helps reduce flooding, saves potable water, and supports green spaces during dry periods. The popularity of the programme continues to grow. Hundreds of households and organisations have already benefited!
Applications are open from 22 April to 12 May 2025. Individuals can receive up to 6,000 PLN in funding, while housing associations and co-ops are eligible for up to 50,000 PLN. The money can cover up to 80% of the cost of above- or below-ground storage tanks, pumps, drainage systems, and upgrades to existing infrastructure. Submissions can be made in person at the Poznań City Hall (pl. Kolegiacki 17), by registered post, or online via the e-Doręczenia system.
Massive Spring Tree Plantings
Every spring, to complete all the green initiatives, Poznań rolls out an ambitious tree planting campaign. This year, nearly 60 new trees are being added in districts like Dębiec, Wilda, and Nowe Miasto. Species include maple, ash, linden, hornbeam, and plane—hardy varieties well-suited to the challenges of city life.
Examples include 21 ashes and two elms on Czechosłowacka Street, eight lindens on Wiśniowa Street, and hornbeams on Leszczyńska Street. These new plantings do more than beautify—they provide shade, absorb pollutants, and create green corridors for urban wildlife.
The trees won’t just be planted and forgotten. Each one will receive ongoing care—including watering, fertilisation, and pruning—for up to 10 years depending on its condition and location. Last year’s results were impressive: hundreds of shrubs, grasses, and trees completely transformed grey streets.
Real Green Progress in Poznań
Whether by redesigning courtyards, collecting rainwater, or planting trees, Poznań’s green initiatives show how sustainability can be practical, beautiful, and inclusive. These efforts combine environmental goals with everyday usefulness, and they put the tools for change directly into the hands of citizens.
From a social perspective, these programmes encourage neighbourly collaboration, civic pride, and eco-conscious thinking that extends beyond one’s backyard. They make sustainable living not just possible, but accessible and rewarding.
Poznań is proving that when local government and citizens work together, real change is possible! Whether you’re ready to submit a project or simply want to support greener streets, now’s the time to get involved.
