We are excited to present the second pilot of our CIPEL Leuven, located at the Leuven Central Prison! This detention facility, with a surface area of approximately 4 hectares, is situated in the heart of Leuven, Belgium. In operation since 1860, the facility currently houses around 400 long-term inmates, many of whom have very limited access to green spaces.
The prison is designed in a star-shaped layout, with courtyards between its cell blocks. One of these courtyards —a previously unused and paved area— will be transformed into a biodiverse garden in collaboration with the inmates. Over 500 square meters of concrete were broken up in 2024, and 120 tons of fertile soil were brought in to revitalize the space.
Inmates had the opportunity to volunteer for the garden team. The design for the garden was co-created with the inmates, and over the past few months, the team has carried out the groundwork: creating swales, adding compost, and preparing the soil for planting. On February 2nd, we planted the trees together with the garden team.
