“Isn’t it lovely?” a child exclaims pointing at Allée de Saint-Cyr. This Allée de Saint-Cyr is near the Domaine de Saint-Cyr. In the 19th century, the Domaine de Saint-Cyr was a large agricultural property. Auguste-Paul-Alphonse Baux owned it then. He was the main agent for an insurance company. This company dealt with fire and life insurance.
The Domaine de Saint-Cyr included land and three small country houses. There was also a main country house. George Budd, a maritime insurer, was the last private owner. He transformed the existing castle into a neoclassical style. The gardens were inspired by French designs. They featured pools, fountains, and sculptures.
The city of Marseille bought 3.7 hectares of the initial estate in 1974. This was after part of the land was developed for housing. The city decided to create a public park. It opened in 1979. The park was designed in a French style. It features flowerbeds adorned with sculptures. There are also pools, fountains and a rockery cascade.
The cascade is currently being renovated. This is to improve water management. The “castle” now houses a community center. It is for elderly people. It also hosts various public events. Allée de Saint-Cyr links to a green avenue near the entrance. Weeding is done manually.
The city of Marseille stopped using pesticides on its green spaces many years ago. Soil analyses have been conducted in several parts of the park. Only mulching from grinding and organic fertilizer are used.
Efforts have improved the watering system. Irrigation water no longer comes from the city’s drinking water supply. Watering is now less frequent. In some areas there is no watering at all. Gardeners manually adjust the watering schedule using weekly weather forecasts. There are plans to reduce the paved surfaces.
The gardeners here are committed to biodiversity. They use different management techniques. These include extensive zones. They avoid using mowers when certain plants are beneficial. These plants may attract pollinators. They also limit tree and shrub pruning.
Ground material produced internally is used under flowerbeds and shrubs. Efforts have focused on plant selection. More pollinating and local plants are used. A doctoral student is conducting inventories of snails and butterflies. These surveys are done in each test zone. Flowerbeds with various butterfly-friendly species have been planted. The project aims to develop an urban naturalness index. The study began in 2020. No results have been released yet.
The city of Marseille has a tree code. It ensures better management of the tree population. It also provides a clear vision for renewing the tree heritage. Most green waste is reused on-site. Maintenance follows sustainable development principles. Teams increasingly use electric equipment. There is no lighting in the park.
Internal training sessions are organized for staff. They cover topics like soil function, pollution and analysis. They also address how to design and maintain a naturalistic approach. Public information signs are in place. They explain management practices and biodiversity protection. Many exchanges are organized with schools. These teach children about biodiversity and eco-gardens. Safety for the public is a priority. Many checks are performed on trees and play areas. The city encourages greening streets. A guide has been created to help people plant suitable plants.