The Bosco Integrale

In the heart of Cento, in the province of Ferrara, the Bosco Integrale is a green space spanning over five hectares that emerged from the regeneration of a former industrial site and has been transformed into a place where nature, community, and inclusion coexist in a virtuous balance. The forest, which has developed spontaneously over the years, preserves a precious heritage of biodiversity and represents a rare example of a natural environment preserved within an urban setting, now returned to the community as a space for gathering, education, and well-being.

Promoted and managed by the Caterina Novi ETS Foundation, the Bosco Integrale was created to honor the memory of Caterina Novi and transform it into a project capable of generating value for the local area. Here, environmental protection is intertwined with social, educational, and cultural activities aimed at people of all ages, with a particular focus on children, families, seniors, and vulnerable individuals. The forest thus becomes an open space where the connection with nature fosters relationships, learning, and participation.

Educational trails, workshops, cultural events, and initiatives dedicated to sustainability help make the Bosco Integrale a place of experimentation and active citizenship, where biodiversity, environmental education, and inclusion reinforce one another. The restoration of the buildings in the former industrial complex further expands this mission, creating new spaces dedicated to culture, education, and community engagement.

Through a model that combines environmental regeneration, social innovation, and participation, the Bosco Integrale demonstrates how a place can become a driver of well-being for the community, transforming the care of nature into a collective experience of growth, hospitality, and shared responsibility.