#greenercities — Public Fediverse posts

UK - Key plants for a #ClimateChange garden

BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

Published: Thursday, 24 November 2022 at 11:30 am

Take a look at our pick of key plants to grow in a changing climate.

"With temperatures and levels of pollution on the rise, plants can help gardens and gardeners thrive in changing times.

"This might seem like a daunting prospect, but the good news for gardeners is that there are steps we can take at a local level to help ease the effects of these big issues.

"While we can use drought-tolerant plants to cope in raised temperatures, the long-term solution lies in reducing the heat. Some plants have been proven to actively improve the #microclimate of a garden and surrounding buildings. For example, plants like #jasmine, #EnglishIvy and #viburnum are able to cool a building by between 7-14ºC. Plants can also trap pollution by absorbing particulate matter. #Conifers have been found to be especially good at this due to their smaller leaf size and shape.

"On top of this, the more ecologically resilient we can make our gardens with increased planting, the better they will serve us as places to relax, reduce stress and improve our mental well-being."

Read more:
https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/key-plants-for-a-climate-change-garden/

#SolarPunkSunday #ClimateChangeGardening #ClimateChangeAdaptation #KeepingCool #DroughtTolerantPlants #GreenerCities

#Aotearoa / #NewZealand - The case for #WildlifeCorridors, bridges & belts

Connected networks of vegetated or aquatic spaces that enable movement of species across fragmented urban landscapes.

Excerpt: "#ClimateChange – #VegetatedCorridors contribute to #UrbanCooling and #microclimate regulation, supporting #ClimateAdaptation benefits alongside #biodiversity outcomes.
#HumanWellbeing – Access to connected, #biodiverse #GreenSpaces is associated with improved psychological wellbeing and restorative experiences.
#Freshwater security – Riparian and #BlueGreenCorridors can improve #stormwater attenuation, #WaterQuality, and #flood #resilience while supporting aquatic and terrestrial connectivity."

Read more:
https://aotearoabiodivercity.org/design-strategies/green-wildlife-corridors-bridges-and-belts/

#SolarPunkSunday #ClimateChangeAdaptation #GreenerCities #GreenCorridors #WildlifeCrossing #WaterIsLife #NatureHeals #SpendTimeInNature #Greenspaces

The #Science of #SolarPunk -- why we need #GreenerCities!

Equitable urban green space planning for sustainable cities: a GIS-based analysis of spatial disparities and functional strategies

Published: 02 July 2025
Sayyed Kifayatullah, Zafeer Saqib, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Muhammad Zaman-ul-Haq, Dmitry E. Kucher, Sajid Ullah & Aqil Tariq

"Abstract:

#UrbanGreenSpaces (#UGS) are critical for fostering ecological sustainability and social equity in rapidly urbanizing cities like #Islamabad, #Pakistan. This study aimed to comprehensively map and classify Islamabad’s UGS, identify spatial disparities, and evaluate their ecological, recreational, and social functions. The research also proposed sustainable strategies for managing UGS to address urban challenges, including climate adaptation, biodiversity loss, and social inequity. The study developed a detailed spatial map of Islamabad’s UGS using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and high-resolution satellite imagery. Seven typologies were categorized and analyzed, including parks, playgrounds, institutional green spaces, and waterways. Field surveys and random sampling validated the thematic maps, achieving an accuracy rate of 95.68% based on statistical metrics like Kappa coefficients. The study revealed significant disparities in UGS distribution.

"Wealthier zones had larger, well-maintained green spaces, while denser areas lacked accessible and functional UGS. Recreational spaces, institutional greenery, and waterways played a vital role in enhancing biodiversity, urban aesthetics, and community well-being, though many remain underutilized or degraded. Institutional green spaces contributed significantly to urban sustainability, comprising 17.05 km² of the total UGS area. The research highlights UGS as an essential #NatureBasedSolution (#NBS) for addressing urban challenges like #HeatIslands, #stormwater management, and #SocialInequalities. The findings serve as a model for other rapidly urbanizing cities seeking #ecological and social balance.

[...]

"Conclusion

[T]his study underscores the pivotal role of UGS in fostering ecological #sustainability, social equity, and urban resilience, particularly in rapidly urbanizing cities like Islamabad. By leveraging GIS and high-resolution satellite imagery, the research provides a detailed analysis of the spatial distribution, typologies, and functional value of #GreenSpaces across the city. The findings reveal striking disparities, where wealthier neighborhoods enjoy better-maintained parks and green belts, while densely populated and economically underprivileged areas often lack accessible and functional green spaces. This imbalance highlights the urgent need for equitable planning and management of urban greenery.

"The research affirms that UGS are more than aesthetic elements; they serve as vital ecological assets by regulating #UrbanMicroclimates, enhancing #biodiversity, managing stormwater, and mitigating the urban heat island effect. Socially, they contribute to community well-being by offering recreation, relaxation, and physical activity spaces. However, the study also identifies significant challenges, such as the uneven distribution, poor maintenance, and underutilization of certain green spaces, which limit their potential to deliver these benefits.

"To address these challenges, the study emphasizes the importance of integrating UGS into #UrbanPlanning policies to ensure #EquitableAccess for all city residents, regardless of socioeconomic status. It also highlights the value of #CommunityInvolvement in the upkeep and management of green spaces, fostering a sense of ownership and responsibility among local stakeholders. Sustainable funding mechanisms, such as public-private partnerships, are proposed to ensure UGS’s regular maintenance and future expansion. Moreover, the research advocates for continued use of data-driven decision-making, leveraging GIS tools to monitor and optimize green infrastructure for long-term sustainability. While this study focuses on Zone I, expanding future research to other zones would offer a more comprehensive perspective on UGS distribution and accessibility across the entire city.

"This research presents UGS as Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) to tackle pressing urban challenges like #ClimateChange, flooding, and social inequalities, offering actionable strategies for policymakers and urban planners. While centered on Islamabad, these findings provide a valuable framework that other rapidly urbanizing cities can adapt to strike a balance between development and ecological integrity. The study reminds that sustainable cities must prioritize green spaces to ensure a livable, #equitable, and #resilient urban future."

Full article:
http://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-07578-2

#SolarPunkSunday #MoreTrees #GreenerCities #MoreGreenSpace #Microclimates #GreenInfrastructure #OpenAccess #OpenAccessJournals #LivableCities

This place sounds so cool!

#Toronto - The Children’s Garden at #EvergreenBrickworks is where kids can explore and connect with nature. It’s a place for kids to get hands on the natural world, including exploring the garden’s rich array of plants.

- Summer weekdays, July and August: 5:30pm to dusk (after Summer Camp programs)
- School-Year weekdays, September through June: 4pm to dusk (after Children’s Education programs)
- Year-round weekends and holidays: 8am to dusk

Ecology at the Children’s Garden

"Our #UrbanAgriculture beds within the garden offer space to grow familiar veggies and herbs. Garden spaces like these can play a vital role in bringing together community members to work to grow food collectively. They can also teach us some valuable lessons on the value of farms and protected local agricultural land, which are able to produce food on a much larger scale.

Located inside the Children’s Garden, the Guild Garden is designed with children in mind. Made possible by support from Forester’s Financial, the garden is built around a central cherry tree surrounded by many species of plants (including fruit shrubs, berries, vegetables and herbs) to create a rich and diverse garden for children to explore. The plants chosen for this garden support #BeneficialInsects, help deter pests and protect the soil.

Lining the alley leading up the garden, stockpots and metal container were installed in 2021 by Foresters Financial, to showcase a regenerative landscape, while also providing food for both pollinators and people. The art on the planters was designed by #Délı̨nę #FirstNations artist and printmaker #LauraGrier.

Milkcrate containers are a legacy left over from the #BoweryProject, which seeks to set up mobile urban farms by setting up #ContainerGardens in urban lots. Initially installed in 2015 with an urban agriculture focus, the milkcrates were revitalized in 2023 into a native container garden concept. This project aims to demonstrate to visitors that NativePlantGardens can be planted anywhere, even without a yard. The containers also aim to model the creation of #GreenCorridors that connect fragmented pieces of habitat throughout the city; to this end they were planted out with plants donated by #ProjectSwallowtail, which aims to connect #greenspaces across the city.

The milkcrate containers in the alley contain edible native plant species. In 2023 they were planted out with the following:

• Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)
• Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata)
• Spotted Beebalm (Monarda punctata)
• Violets (Viola labradorica)
• Wild Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana)"

FMI:
https://www.evergreen.ca/evergreen-brick-work/activities/the-childrens-garden/

#SolarPunkSunday #SpendTimeInNature #NatureBasedLearning #BuildingCommunity #EdibleGarden #GreenerCities #UrbanGardens #MoreGreenTimeLessScreenTime #ChildrensGarden

#HarvestingRainwater with Brad Lancaster: How to Create Livable Desert Cities

by Crime Pays But Botany Doesn't
Jun 9, 2026

Part 1 of a 3 Video Series

"In this episode we see the incredible work that Brad Lancaster and his community are doing to make the #DunbarSpring Neighborhood in #TucsonAZ a cooler, more pleasant and human-friendly place to live by using plants as infrastructure and creating a #FoodForest using #NativePlants that are adapted to deal with the desert heat perfectly because they evolved there.

"This video shows us how what Brad and his community have done serve as a model as to what could be down to make cities all over the globe more livable, illustrating how human development and nature do not have to be mutually exclusive. Filming this video and seeing that Brad and his people have done made me feel in something I haven't felt in a long time : hope."

Watch:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wN6t8xwpYZ8

#SolarPunkSunday #ClimateChangeAdaptation #Rainwater #GreenerCities #Basins #NativeVegetation #WaterStructures #LocalEcology #HeatIslands

The #depaving groups reclaiming #UrbanGreenSpace

by Jennifer Cole, Mar 21, 2026

"It took two years, but finally, in 2025, Jean Norwood’s dream of turning the parking lot at #MorningstarMissionary Baptist Church in #PortlandOR, into a play area for children and a #FoodGarden with #FruitTrees came true. Working with Norwood to bring her vision to reality was #DepavePortland. Since 2008, the Portland-based nonprofit has been digging up paved surfaces, freeing the trapped soil underneath and #regreening the newly reclaimed space.

"There are an estimated 2 billion parking places in the United States, an area comparable in size to the entire state of Vermont. That figure does not include #sidewalks, schoolyards or other paved surfaces, which, along with #CarParks, trap heat, intensifying the urban #HeatIsland effect in some cases by up to 10 degrees Fahrenheit compared with surrounding areas. '#Asphalt makes your space hotter in the summertime, and colder in the wintertime,' Norwood says.

"When asphalt is removed and the soil beneath is exposed, those dynamics begin to reverse. The ground can absorb and store #carbon, and #rainwater is able to filter into the soil rather than running off into sewers. #Trees and #gardens can be planted that provide shade and a #habitat is created for #birds, #insects and other #wildlife.

"This was Norwood’s dream for the parking lot at Morningstar. Going from concrete to fruit trees, though, takes patience. 'First,' she says, 'there was about six months of planning and submitting requests for permitting.'

"Depave guided Norwood and the church through all of it, even seeking out grants to help cover costs. When it came time to depave the parking lot, volunteers recruited by Depave used crowbars, shovels, bare hands and wheelbarrows to lift out the pavement and daylight the soil beneath. Depave also worked with Morningstar on finding contractors to build the play area and raised #GardenBeds, and on choosing the plants for each newly #regreened space. It’s a process Depave has perfected at more than 82 sites across Portland."

https://www.rewildingmag.com/the-depaving-groups-reclaiming-urban-green-space/

#SolarPunkSunday #MoreGreenCities #GreenerCities #RewildingCities #MoreParksLessParkingLots #WildlifeHabitat

Six Cities Making Room for #Nature

By Sharon Gosling, 2021

"How do you turn a city green? Stand back and let the plants in!

From #beehives on rooftops to #ForestChannels pulling cool air into city centres, innovative ideas are bringing nature into urban areas, all around the world. Here are six cities that have found ways to incorporate #greenery into their #cityscapes – to the benefit of their populations and the environment."

Read more:
https://www.bbcearth.com/news/six-cities-making-room-for-nature

#SolarPunkSunday #GreenCities #GreenerCities #GreenSpace #Gardens #Liverpool #CuritibaBrazil #Singapore #Izmir #Seoul #NewYorkCity