Bringing Fronts Back: A Research Agenda to Investigate the Health and Well-Being Impacts of Front Gardens

Abstract

This perspective article proposes an agenda to investigate the impacts of front gardens (yards) on health and well-being. As front gardens are increasingly being paved over, significant ecological benefits will be lost. In addition, urban green infrastructure has a measurable role to play in addressing major public health issues related to mental health, chronic stress, inflammatory, and cardiovascular diseases. The social value of front gardens remains un-quantified. Future research can contribute to assessing the psycho-socio-cultural value of front gardens, and fostering healthy environments for people to live, work, and play in. A better understanding of the health impacts of front gardens can provide a relatable argument to protect permeable surfaces and spaces for nature, as well as to discourage the general public from paving over their front gardens. We propose eight central research questions to be addressed in future work, and elaborate on further variables, lines of inquiry, and suggested intervention trials and observational studies. Potential research findings will have implications for decision-making in fields of horticulture, landscape architecture, urban planning, and public health.

“It made me feel brighter in myself”- The health and well-being impacts of a residential front garden horticultural intervention

“…The research presented here aims to address the gaps in knowledge relating to private residential gardens and to help inform policy-makers and planners about their potential value in terms of well-being and socio-cultural relations. This is important because not only are gardens being omitted in some new developments, but existing gardens are also changing in terms of their land cover, with many being paved over to facilitate ‘off-road’ car parking or ease maintenance ( Chalmin-Pui, Griffiths, Roe, & Cameron, 2019 ). In the UK, 87% of households have gardens ( Davies et al, 2009 ) equating to 5,300 km 2 or 30% of the total urban area ( Office for National Statistics, 2018 ), yet recent studies suggest as much as 38% of this area is now hard-surfaced, with some ‘gardens’ having no plants at all ( Bonham, 2019 ).…”

Gardens with Kerb Appeal - A Framework to Understand the Relationship between Britain in Bloom Gardeners and Their Front Gardens

“…Constructing a theoretical framework aims to better understand socio-cultural mechanisms through which front gardens impact wellbeing outcomes (Chalmin-Pui et al, 2019, 2021. This aims to provide new evidence to inform policy in tackling the decline of domestic green spaces in new and existing urban developments (World Health Organization, 2016).…”

Promoting planting in front gardens: a systematic approach to intervention development

“…Aside from the social benefits offered by front gardens, growing plants in front gardens can also help to regulate extremes in temperature during heat waves, provide shelter and insulation in winter [9,10] and reduce the risk of urban flooding [11]. While the specific benefits derived from growing in front gardens can depend on the size of the garden, the types of plants cultivated (e.g., the benefits of homegrown produce from edible plants such as fruits, herbs and vegetables) and the overall level of maintenance involved, the evidence strongly shows that cultivating a front garden can contribute to a healthier and more meaningful lifestyle for people [7,[12][13][14].…”

“…The Royal Horticultural Society, the main gardening charity in the UK, has long been campaigning and funding research to protect front gardens [15,18]. Due to the social, psychological and environmental health benefits provided by front gardens, there is a growing research interest in understanding and cultivating this practice amongst UK citizens [7,[12][13][14][19][20][21].…”