A land of nature

Did you know that the Paris 2024 Games have increased the surface area of the Parc départemental Georges Valbon in La Courneuve by 11 hectares?

This consolidates its position as one of the largest parks in the Paris region. And it’s not the only large park rich in biodiversity in the area. There’s also the Parc départemental de l’Île-Saint-Denis, a first-rate ornithological reserve, the Butte Pinson regional park, the Parc des Docks in Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine and the Parc de la Légion d’Honneur in Saint-Denis….

These large parks are veritable green lungs with multiple uses.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, Plaine Saint-Denis was the largest vegetable-growing plain in France. Although this activity has gradually been pushed out of the area by growing urbanization, the region’s history of market gardening has left its mark on the landscape, as have the many allotment and shared gardens, a legacy of 19th-century workers’ gardens.

Today, the region is strongly committed to the redevelopment of high-quality, organic urban agriculture, providing short-distance food to some of its residents. Ferme Ouverte de Saint-Denis, Zone Sensitive, Ferme Mazier, Terre Terre and Halage are just some of the many urban farms that produce farm products, flowers and vegetables, while at the same time promoting awareness and sharing through workshops and exhibitions.