Analysis: Urban gardens have been shown to improve your wellbeing, increase garden biodiversity and support wildlife
Ireland is known for its wide expanses of green fields, with recent advances in satellite technology identifying just how green this landscape actually is. According to the Central Statistics Office's Urban and Rural Life in Ireland 2019 report, well over 90% of the country can be classified as rural and, while we can debate how truly natural these green areas are, the moniker is warranted.
Despite this, according to the 2022 census, almost two-thirds of the population live in urban areas, with trends projecting this will only continue to rise. these cities, towns and suburbs are highly developed, with a high density of human structures such as houses, commercial buildings and roads. By 2050, Shared Socioeconomic Pathways project that there will be more buildings, with an increase in density in urban areas. As urbanisation occurs, 'green’ space will be sacrificed, lost or at the very least subjected to added pressures. Gardens have therefore taken on the role of ‘sanctuaries’ supporting biodiversity, wellbeing and a sense of community.
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From RTÉ News, Bríd Ruddy on turning a "very grim and grotty alley" in Belfast into a green space and community garden
Can urban gardens really tackle the biodiversity crisis?
The recent Intergovernmental Science Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services report identified that over 1 million species are now threatened with extinction, many within decades. This deterioration is directly linked to human activity, with urban areas ranked as the driver with the largest global impact. This is echoed in the recent Report of the Citizen’s Assembly on Biodiversity Loss, which outlines the enormous role urban areas must play in the conservation and restoration of biodiversity, with green cities and nature-based solutions increasing in importance within policy.
While Singapore would be seen as the gold standard of a ‘Green City’, even the smallest urban garden can spark interest or even behavioural changes. In the opening chapter of his book An Irish Atlantic Rainforest, Eoghan Daltun outlines how the Rainforest of Dublin (a combination of Phoenix Park and Dublin Zoo) coupled with the planting of native trees in a small urban garden inspired, in part, the rewilding of a 73-acre farm in co. Cork.
On a smaller scale, in our Science Foundation Ireland project NatureWatch, we identified changes in behaviour in how people interacted with their gardens after using cameras to record nature, which resulted in an increase in garden biodiversity in Cork, but also improvements in wellbeing.
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From RTÉ News, scientists are analysing the impact of rain garden planters in Dublin's north inner city
Do urban gardens improve wellbeing?
People that feed or watch birds regularly in their gardens report that they feel more relaxed and connected to nature. I recently wrote about the importance of No Mow May to biodiversity, with one of the arguments that access to green spaces and biodiverse rich areas support personal wellbeing. Small pockets of unmown lawn can increase flower and insect diversity, which has positive impacts for birds, but also improves our mood. Gardening has also been shown to improve physical health and wellbeing and reduce stress levels, while garden play by children improves their physical health and increases environmental stewardship.
Community gardens in urban environments where private gardens are not available have also been shown to create social ties. Urban gardens can function as cultural spaces that allow for cross-cultural learning and building of connections across society and have been found to support members of vulnerable or disadvantaged groups.
Even if getting outside is not a possibility, watching nature videos from your front room has been shown to have positive wellbeing impacts. Sharing the joy (or crises) of nature within families or across communities increases bonds and strengthens relationships, meaning gardens really become a communal construct. This is important when we consider gardens as small patches within the wider spatial network of urban areas.
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From RTÉ Radio 1's Today with Claire Byrne, birdwatchers Eddie Hellewell and Pauline Doyle on the benefits of birdwatching
Is your garden really your garden?
We consider gardens our own personal refuge in an increasingly urbanised world, but we really need to look beyond the fence (or wall) and consider our garden in the patchwork of the city. Not only does ‘sharing’ the natural environment build community support and improve wellbeing, it undoubtedly also supports biodiversity.
A study in Cork City found that over 50% of the land within the (old) city boundary was green, highlighting the importance of gardens and green spaces to the city’s overall configuration. This was particularly important for species that use multiple habitats, with the study finding that 38% of the birds recorded within the city are of conservation concern nationally and found in areas of more connected green and blue spaces.
While green areas will always be fragmented in urban areas, they are in principle connected. However, the increase in wooden fences and particularly those with wire meshes or concrete boards at ground level (to increase fence lifespan) cause significant issues for less mobile species. Estimates from the UK have highlighted that hedgehogs have declined by 30% in recent years, with recent citizen science projects in Ireland are seeking to ascertain a population estimate here.
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From RTÉ News, herbalist Aaron Foley on rewilding his back garden in Dublin
Frogs and toads that have long lived in urban ponds are also declining across Europe. The creation of ‘garden highways’ is an initiative that is aimed at supporting mobility through the urban landscape for many garden species that have become increasingly rare to see.
Our relationships with gardens are deeply multifaceted and personal. When coupled with the well documented physical and wellbeing improvements of spending time in gardens, the benefits are clear. Gardens also hold a connection with the wider urban environment, being of vital importance to the declining populations of wildlife.
As the weather improves and we begin to spend more time outside, imagine urban gardens and green spaces as part of a wider network that supports communities and animals alike. Explore these areas and develop a deeper connection and understanding of nature, which will yield more engagement with sustainable and environmentally friendly behaviour, that further positively impacts physical health, wellbeing, and biodiversity.
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The views expressed here are those of the author and do not represent or reflect the views of RTÉ
