How does the trend from green to grey affect our health and well-being?
We’re increasingly aware of the effect that green spaces have on our physical and mental well-being, and there’s also been much recent publicity about the alarming rate at which front gardens are disappearing. More than 4.5 million of them contain no plants at all, and a quarter are now totally paved over. But despite multiple studies that show the positive effects of green spaces, very little work has been done on front gardens. So how does the trend from green to grey affect our health and well-being? New research from the RHS and the University of Sheffield aims to find out.
The research, by PhD student Lauriane Suyin Chalmin-Pui, involves a 15-minute questionnaire, which aims to reach both gardeners and non-gardeners. At the end of the questionnaire, you will be asked to pass a link on to a non-gardener who is otherwise similar to you – a friend, colleague, family member or neighbour.
Enjoy more Kitchen Garden Magazine reading every month.
Click here to subscribe & save.
Lauriane will also be greening front gardens that are currently paved over, and monitoring any health and well-being changes over the course of a year. “I aim to give value to the health and socio-cultural benefits of front gardens to residents and the wider community. This is a crucial part of curbing the trend of disappearing front gardens,” she says.
Go to https://www.rhs.org.uk/science/gardening-in-a-changing-world/greening-grey-britain/front-garden-research to take part in the survey.
