The greening of Place de la Comédie in Montpellier, France, symbolises a broader city-wide ambition. To adapt to climate change, enhance the city’s beauty, and promote biodiversity, Montpellier has set a goal to plant 50,000 trees by 2026. The aim is to multiply shaded areas during heatwaves and create cool zones, making the city a resilient and protective environment. This large-scale tree-planting project includes new parks, additional plantings in public spaces, and the greening of streets and squares.

Adapting to Climate Change

According to the European Copernicus Observatory, 2023 was the hottest year on record. Due to ongoing climate change, heatwaves are becoming more frequent and intense, making Montpellier particularly vulnerable. Cooling the city is now more important than ever. A simulation carried out on the 8-hectare Comédie Esplanade project suggests that by 2030, temperatures in certain spots could be reduced by 2°C to 7°C. This can be achieved through permeable soils, additional trees, and increased water features, based on IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) recommendations. Nearly 4,300 m² of the Esplanade is being greened, mainly through wide green strips and by planting trees at the base of rows of plane trees. In total, over 50 additional trees will be planted around the Comédie and Esplanade areas. Alongside misting systems, large fountains with refreshing water features will be installed at the junction of the Comédie and Esplanade, providing cooling towards the Musée Fabre.

The Return of the Elm to Montpellier

The greening project at Place de la Comédie provides an opportunity to reintroduce the elm, which once held a central place in this square. The choice of the elm is deliberate. For a long time, the elm symbolised squares in towns and villages across southern France. In the 19th century, elms were one of the most valued tree species in Montpellier, used to decorate the Esplanade and the Royal Place of Peyrou. The selected species for the new planting at Place de la Comédie is the Ulmus Lutèce, a hybrid developed by INRAE, resistant to Dutch elm disease. With an initial height of approximately 8 metres, these elms could reach 12 metres on this historic square. They will help improve the ecosystem and create shaded areas that connect with the city’s history.

TreeParker® Provides Space for the Elms

The project to bring elms back to Place de la Comédie began in early spring 2023. Each tree was given a significant volume of soil: nearly 75 m³ per tree. The trees are equipped with irrigation systems and moisture sensors to monitor soil moisture levels weekly. The top level of the car park was repurposed to make room for the trees. Large Soil Cell System tree pits were installed on level 1 of the underground car park beneath the square. This unique situation presented many obstacles, which were resolved using the TreeParker® system. The flexibility of the TreeParker® system provided a solution, as it can easily be adjusted in height and is modular, allowing cables and pipes to be seamlessly integrated.

TreeParker® Provides Growth Space

The TreeParker® system offers the elms underground growth space while preserving surrounding infrastructure, such as cables, pipes, and paving. The system comprises modular units connected to each other. Ample space between these units is filled with a soil composition tailored to the needs of the tree species. This allows the tree roots to grow unhindered. By closely simulating a natural growth environment, the trees have the best chance to thrive healthily amidst paving and urban structures.

Tree Development

In the summer of 2024, we visited Place de la Comédie to observe the development of the trees. The elms have established well, are in good condition, and have healthy foliage mass. Now, it’s just a matter of proper maintenance and giving the trees time to grow into healthy, mature specimens. In this way, they can offer Montpellier numerous climate benefits in the future!