Resolution:
The leisure gardens and children and young people

The representatives of the national allotment and leisure gardens federations that met in Warsaw from June 17th till 20th 2004 have discussed the subject « The leisure gardens and children and young people ».

They acknowledged:

- that the urban areas and their anonymity constitute many dangers for children and young people,
- that playgrounds and open spaces are particularly lacking in the urban areas,
- that often the lacking quality of life in the residential areas does not allow an adequate development and a stimulating education of children and young people for life
- that the residential areas densely built do not allow any contact with nature and cut young people from their natural roots.

They underline:

- that children are our precious good and the future of our society,
- that children need a place to play and to let steam off,
- that the leisure gardens are healthy areas of discovery for children and young people and stimulate their physical and spiritual development,
- that they show them the happenings in nature from their origin till their end and give so to children and young people an education for life and develop additionally their knowledge for nature and environment,
- that they enable children and young people to be themselves creative and protected them additionally from many urban dangers.
- that they simulate children and young people for a respectful behaviour towards other people and make them understand the notions of democracy, tolerance and solidarity through their participation in the associative life,
- that the associative life in the gardens favours the dialogue between generations in a sustainable way,

They ask therefore their members:

- to continue to take the necessary measures so that children and young people have sufficient space in the leisure garden sites for their individual fruitful leisure time occupation,
- to lay out their gardens in such a way that young people can live a healthy leisure time amidst adults,
- to allow both that children and young people take in an adequate way part in the associative life and develop their own activities,
- to equip the leisure garden sites adequately for children by laying out playgrounds and common areas,
- to cooperate with schools and nursery schools for the sensitization for nature (school-gardens, practical biology course, day in the garden, activities),
- to prefer families with children while putting garden plots at the disposal of interested persons.

They ask the authorities on all levels:

- to recognize and support leisure gardens as place for education for nature,
- to support these efforts with all the means that are at their disposal and to include the costs for the creation of leisure garden sites in their financial planning,
- to reserve grounds for the creation of leisure gardens in the urban areas in order to increase the quality of life both for adults and children and young people,
- to stimulate the creation of school-gardens in order to sensitise children for the interconnections of nature,
- to introduce the subject “garden” in the schools programs.

The resolution was adopted with unanimity.

Warsaw, June 19th, 2004