On October 5th, the green spaces team of Marennes-Hiers-Brouage received the Landscape Initiative Prize from the « Ma commune, mon paysage » competition, at the premises of the Département de la Charente-Maritime. This distinction recognizes the work carried out over several years by staff and elected officials to give more space to vegetation in the town.
For the second consecutive year, the commune participated in this competition. This year, it was distinguished in the category for communes with 5,001 to 9,000 inhabitants for its initiative titled « Building the coastal garden city of tomorrow between marshes, heritage, and biodiversity ». The trophy was presented to the green spaces service agents, acknowledging their daily work and the commitment made with elected officials.
« This award is a source of pride for the entire commune », emphasized Pascal Baillargeau, deputy for technical services. « It salutes years of shared work between the green spaces team and the elected officials. We continue with the same enthusiasm: more nature, more freshness, more life in our streets ».
In Marennes-Hiers-Brouage, landscape has gradually become a genuine urban project tool. The objective is to better adapt the town to the effects of climate change, preserve resources, and improve the living environment. This approach relies on reference documents and a landscape plan to ensure coherence for various current and future developments.
Greening, soil de-sealing, rainwater management, and the development of green and blue infrastructure are integrated into development projects. These changes are already visible in the streets and public spaces: more vegetation, gradually de-sealed soils, calmer traffic, and spaces that encourage walking and cycling. Municipal staff are also evolving their practices, with training in new skills like eco-grazing and reasoned pruning, supported by an arborist for tree heritage management. Residents are also involved in some projects through meetings and consultations.
The landscape initiative prize is notably based on the developments carried out at the Fradin islet, inaugurated on January 5th, 2026, following the redevelopment of rue Etchebarne and then rue du Maréchal-Foch. This project transformed a highly mineralized sector into a greener, more pleasant living space. The operation, representing an investment of 1.4 million euros including tax, received support from the Département de la Charente-Maritime and the State.
The town's landscape transformation continues with new projects, including the landscape redevelopment of Place Chasseloup-Laubat in 2026 and the continuation of the La Marquina eco-district. This distinction from the Department recognizes a long-term commitment and the daily work of municipal teams.
