Because they’re visible to neighbors and passersby, they may be able to contribute to the well-being of the community, too.
We added two planters with ornamental plants, including petunias, violas, rosemary, lavender, azaleas, clematis, and either an Amelanchier (snowy Mespilus) tree or a dwarf juniper tree. These were chosen for their ease of maintenance and familiarity to most people in the United Kingdom.
We also provided the 42 residents with compost, self-watering containers, a watering can, and a trellis. The research team did all the planting to ensure that all the gardens were similar. Participants were given advice on how to maintain and water their plants and were permitted to add further plants or features. The new additions were as low maintenance as possible.
Lower stress
Over a period of one year, we found that having plants in previously bare front gardens was associated with a 6 percent drop in residents’ perceived stress levels. This scale measures the degree to which situations in life are considered to be stressful by taking into account feelings of control and the ability to cope with stressors.A small addition of a few plants in the front garden was a positive change to their home environment and the street.
Attention restoration theory proposes that exposure to natural environments restores our ability to concentrate on tasks that require effort and directed attention. Spending time in natural environments demands less “brain power” so to speak, as we don’t need to focus as much on specific stimuli or tasks nor on suppressing distractions. Nature also provides us opportunities for reflection. Stress reduction theory proposes that natural environments provoke instantaneous emotional responses and fewer negative feelings than nonnatural environments.
Our study’s results show the importance of even small green spaces for reducing stress, and may be important considerations in local planning, urban development, and health and social care. Integrated thinking between the built environment, environmental and health sectors is necessary.