François de Canson answers questions from La Gazette du Var.

La Londe has just received the 4th flower of the Villes et villages fleuris label. How did you feel?

A lot of pride and a lot of pleasure. It is the culmination of a long process that began a long time ago now and it is a wonderful reward for the town's teams who see their efforts and commitment recognized. It is nature inviting itself into the town! I think it is also a source of pride for all Londais because this label has become very important in recent years. According to a national survey, 86% of residents say they are proud to live in a town that has received this label!

How do you go from the 3rd to the 4th flower? Tell us about the example of La Londe?

La Londe has been committed for many years to an ambitious policy of beautifying and enhancing its living environment. This ambition is reflected in adapted landscape management, taking into account local specificities, biodiversity, and climate challenges. To obtain the 4th flower, we must highlight the municipality's strengths even more and of course improve what can be improved. In La Londe, for example, we have replanted and flowered the roundabouts and town entrances. We have also taken particular care of the parc de la Brûlade, which is the municipality's flagship in this area! We have also embellished the jardin des Oliviers and the vegetable garden, which truly made an impression on the jurors. This vegetable garden is an exceptional tool for transmitting our values to the younger generations!

Must the whole be coherent, neat, and exceptional?

Naturally, we are continuing our

Municipalities displaying 4 flowers are not many!

Indeed, there are 11 in région Sud, including 5 in Var: Sanary, Hyères, Bormes, Le Lavandou, and La Londe... Three towns are in our community of municipalities, Méditerranée Porte des Maures.

Could you become the first intercommunality with a 4-flower label in France?

I certainly hope that one day, all 6 municipalities of the Méditerranée Porte des Maures community will display 4 flowers! I always say we live in an exceptional territory, truly blessed by the gods. But it is the national jury that will decide!

How many towns and villages are labeled in région Sud?

264 towns and villages in the region have at least one flower! That is considerable!

Exactly what does the Villes et villages fleuris label represent?

It embodies 'sustainable good living'. It highlights our heritage, our environment, our tourist and cultural assets, through a policy of sustainable and responsible development. It has 60 criteria: water savings, the greening of public spaces, urban cleanliness which must be impeccable, the highlighting of heritage, the protection of biodiversity and natural resources, public lighting, the nature of plantings, and the label also takes into account educational efforts aimed at children, plant heritage, etc...

How does the jury work?

The regional jury is composed of more than 40 members, all of whom are volunteers and professionals related to the label's criteria. Every year, the jury carries out more than 80 visits, either to confirm, reduce, or for tourism purposes. 30% of tourists state that labels directly influence their choice of destination.

Is the greening of public spaces essential in the fight against climate change?

This is the heart of the region's strategy, which has adopted a 100% green budget and a vast plan to help municipalities replant streets and squares. Planting trees in urban environments has become an essential challenge to combat heat islands, soil un-paving and revegetation (schoolyards, parking lots...) and soil de-paving over large surfaces significantly reduce temperatures emitted by opaque soils. The Label takes all of these actions into account when evaluating municipalities. Our region Sud Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur is a benchmark in terms of biodiversity, possessing an exceptional natural heritage. Our ambition is to build a prosperous, modern, and dynamic region that our fellow citizens will be proud to pass on to their children. We wish to make our region a model institution for the Climate agreements.

More than ever, let us have a 'Cop d’Avance', to use the favorite expression of Renaud Muselier?

The ecological and energy transitions are at the heart of the Label's issues. This work allows the regional territory to become a benchmark in terms of quality of life, sustainable good living, and to be ever more welcoming and attractive to both residents and our visitors. Let us continue together to value nature and biodiversity, to preserve the environment, and to promote attractive, sustainable, and responsible tourism in Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur.