On 25 and 26 June, the hedgehog, squirrel, bat and amphibian were in the spotlight in
Brussels. And rightly so, because they are what the Interreg North-West Europe (NWE)
project Urban is all about!
Over these two days the Urban Animal Network consortium came together at Brucity
for two inspiring days of in-person workshops, exchange and collaboration. Together,
we focused on solutions for our four animal species in the ecological layers air, tree
canopy, shrubs and water. These animals are under pressure in urban areas, due to a
lack of suitable habitats, safe routes, food, and shelter.
During the workshops, we worked on:
• Identifying barriers and opportunities for animal habitats across North West Europe;
• categorising possible transnational Urban Animal Network solutions;
• strengthening community engagement and long-term involvement;
• developing our Urban animal network strategy for the next steps.
It was inspiring to see partners from across North West Europe bring together their
knowledge, local experiences and commitment. The energy in the room showed once
again that by working together, we can create more space for animals in our cities.
A big thank you to the city of Brussels for hosting us again. We look forward to turning
these shared insights into action.
