Citizens reclaim neglected public spaces across France by creating French guerrilla gardens that build community and support biodiversity.
In France’s bustling cities, a quiet revolution is taking root. A growing movement of urban gardeners is transforming abandoned lots, forgotten corners, and concrete spaces into lively green oases. Known as French guerrilla gardens, these unauthorized green spaces are sprouting up across the country, driven by passionate citizens reclaiming public land to benefit their communities and the environment.
Leading this green revolution is Ophélie Damblé, a 35-year-old gardening author and influencer who goes by the online moniker Ta Mère Nature. With over 243,000 Instagram followers and a thriving YouTube channel, Damblé has become one of the most recognizable faces of France’s burgeoning guerrilla gardening movement.
French guerrilla gardens are grassroots initiatives where citizens plant flowers, vegetables, and herbs in neglected urban areas without official permission. This form of urban agriculture represents a peaceful act of civil disobedience against what Damblé calls “excessive concreting” in cities. While technically unauthorized, these projects often receive tacit approval from local authorities, who recognize their benefits to community well-being and urban biodiversity.
Damblé operates a neighborhood nursery at Cité Fertile, a former freight station in Pantin, and has been a vocal advocate for this movement since she began sharing gardening videos in 2017. For her, green guerrilla warfare is a tool for getting involved in greening. It’s about reclaiming public space in a completely spontaneous way.
The French guerrilla garden movement is about more than just beautifying urban spaces. These gardens serve multiple purposes, from fostering social connections to supporting local ecosystems.
Guerrilla gardens unite people, creating spaces where neighbors can connect and collaborate. Damblé emphasizes that these projects often start as small, unauthorized efforts but can evolve into officially recognized community spaces. She notes that what is interesting is when residents begin taking care of the space. Then, one can think about making it official by setting up an association to safeguard the garden.
Urban areas often lack green spaces to support pollinators like bees and butterflies. Guerrilla gardeners help provide essential food sources for these vital species by planting melliferous plants that produce nectar.
In some cases, French guerrilla gardens grow fruits, vegetables, and herbs, offering fresh produce to urban residents. This is particularly valuable in underprivileged areas with limited access to fresh food.
The French guerrilla garden movement draws inspiration from international successes like those of Los Angeles activist Ron Finley. In 2010, Finley planted vegetables in a neglected strip of land, an act of civil disobedience that initially resulted in fines. However, his efforts garnered widespread media attention and led to legal changes, highlighting the lack of access to fresh produce in poorer neighborhoods.
Damblé parallels Finley’s work and the growing momentum of guerrilla gardening in France. They are trying to organize urban farms to help people understand all the benefits that plants can bring. It’s not just about plants—it is about social links, food, biodiversity, and creating sustainable urban spaces.
Se also: Guerrilla Gardening and Seed Bombs – How to Get Started
As a guide for aspiring guerrilla gardeners, Damblé emphasizes the importance of strategic planning and community involvement in urban greening initiatives. According to her, success begins with careful plant selection. Plants must withstand urban conditions and support local ecosystems, highlighting pollinator-friendly options such as lavender and sunflowers as particularly effective choices.
Damblé recommends using planters or raised beds to address soil quality concerns in urban areas. This approach circumvents potential soil contamination issues and provides garden placement and maintenance flexibility. The expert also endorsed using seed bombs—an innovative technique combining seeds, compost, clay, and water. These biodegradable projectiles can effectively green areas that are otherwise difficult to access or lack nutrients.
The French guerrilla garden movement attracts diverse participants, from schoolchildren to business professionals and retirees. Damblé’s workshops at Cité Fertile draw people from all walks of life, united by their shared passion for gardening and urban renewal.
French cities are increasingly adapting to this citizen-led initiative. Some municipalities now offer permits for urban gardening projects, recognizing these spaces’ value to their communities. This shift reflects a growing understanding of urban agriculture’s role in creating more sustainable and livable cities.
For Damblé, gardening is more than just a hobby—it is a universal language that brings people together. She finds that people always find a way of understanding each other when they talk about plants.
As French guerrilla gardens flourish, they demonstrate how citizen action can drive positive environmental change. Urban residents reclaim their cities, foster community connections through these green spaces, and make France’s urban landscapes more resilient and environmentally friendly.
