A UK survey has shown significant public support for more nature in their towns and cities.
The poll of 1,866 people, by Bangor University and the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH), showed that 75% of people wanted more wildflower meadows in their urban areas and 73% were in favour of more trees.
The survey was carried out in partnership with Denbighshire County Council to understand whether UK-wide perceptions were different from the local community’s views about tree planting and new wildflower meadows established by the council in Rhyl, North Wales. In fact, the views of local residents were more positive than the national average. UKCEH scientists conducted modelling studies to calculate the improvements in noise, carbon and air pollution resulting from the schemes.
Professor Laurence Jones of UKCEH says: “Our models show the considerable benefits that trees and wildflowers provide. They reduce heat and noise, and give us cleaner air and more biodiversity. These scientific findings back up people’s intuition that more greenspace is better for all of us.”
Interviews with residents in Rhyl found trees and wildflower meadows mattered to 96% of those questioned while 82% of participants stated it was important to spend time among trees.
The work was funded by the RECLAIM Network which brings together experts in a range of disciplines, to share lessons from UK cities that have found innovative ways to include trees, other plants and water features in their urban infrastructure.
Further information
The RECLAIM Network project has received £1.2 million from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), part of UK Research and Innovation. Led by the University of Surrey and also involving UKCEH and the Universities of Bath, Bangor and Warwick, it is a partnership of researchers, artists, businesses, local authorities, charities and policymakers.
The network promotes the sharing of skills and knowledge on urban greening, and puts towns and cities in touch with others who have similar experiences. It aims to ‘reclaim forgotten cities’, with a focus on areas with severe pockets of deprivation or which have not traditionally received investment for research and innovation.