The typical scenario of the countryside north of Milan is farmland surrounded by urban dwellings. The main reason for the sweeping changes which took place in the period after the second world war is the high rate of urbanisation in those years which has led to the indiscriminate building of roads, factories and houses in areas once given over almost entirely to farming. Environmental associations have struggled for years to safeguard the few remaining untouched areas of the Park of Grugnotorto-Villoresi. The park was established in 1999 and restoration and reforestation took place, thanks to an agreement between the municipality of Cinisello Balsamo and Legambiente. We thus saw the birth of the nature reserve of Saint Eusebio woods where the commitment of volunteers and many local citizens has transformed a despoiled area on the edge of the town into a place where people can get together and enjoy the open spaces.

www.cinisello.legambiente.org