Since 2004, Villa Arson has been committed to an ecological transition process initiated by a first major step: the abandonment of the use of glyphosate in gardens. Driven by Patrice Lorho, responsible for the gardens of Villa Arson, this dynamic continued with the stop, from 2009, of chemical insecticides — eight years before the entry into force of the Labbé law, which since 2017 has required communities to use alternatives to synthetic pesticides in the maintenance of green spaces. In this logic, all chemical herbicides were also banned in the years that followed.
At the same time, the grass surface has been reduced to make way for plants adapted to the Mediterranean climate. These new massifs are inspired by the precepts of landscape gardener Gilles Clément as well as the advice ideas of Olivier Filippi, specialist in “dry gardens”. The still grassed surfaces are also subject to tests involving the introduction of plant species that require less water and which allow for the promotion of biodiversity.
Over the past decade, the ecological transition of gardens has intensified. Composters have been made available to users of the establishment, with the aim of doubling their number in the short term. A comprehensive inventory of flora and fauna is also planned, in order to better understand and enhance the richness of the often discreet biodiversity of the gardens, and to raise awareness among users and visitors about their role. In a district that has become densely populated over the years, Villa Arson and its gardens constitute a particular biotope and have become a real green lung for the city and its inhabitants.
