Taxation of scientific plants should be cut, because research shows that cities have lost about 50% of their gardens in the last two decades.
Stamping on lawns and the use of artificial grass have become commonplace in recent years, contributing to rising urban temperatures and decreasing organic matter.
Now, research from the University of Sheffield suggests that developers should offer incentives such as council tax or water charges to encourage gardeners to use sustainable technologies. environment to help fight climate change and improve the health and well-being of communities.
Prof Ross Cameron, an expert in landscape horticulture at the University of Sheffield and author of a paper published in the journal Urban Forestry and Urban Greening, suggests that financial incentives should be given to gardens to ensure the land around their home is well equipped with the. vegetable.
Cameron said: “Gardens make up a third of all our cities and are a vital part of keeping our homes and town centers cool in the summer, and in the rain. prevent flooding and provide an important refuge for wildlife.
“Gardens need to be green and full of plants to benefit the local environment, and some types of gardens are better than others.”
“The paradox is that many gardens are not really green and some aspects of garden design can be very damaging to the urban environment. We have printed them for the roof of the car, or to give a sterile patio area; things that increase the temperature of the city and increase the problem of water.
The study suggests that fees for sustainable gardening could reduce council tax, water bills or help with resources. Cameron proposed giving these payments or discounts to homeowners with more than 50% of their gardens planted.
The report also shows that banning environmentally harmful substances such as pesticides, or practices such as installing astroturf, can benefit the environment.
Private garden management is usually the responsibility of the homeowner, but Cameron says a more comprehensive approach is needed to address the emergency and loss of biodiversity in the city.
after the news release
He said: “Our research shows that some cities have lost up to 50% of their ‘green’ gardens in the last two decades. Many residents use artificial grass to kill the amount of life in the soil under it, and when we find natural plants, we mistakenly think that we need to hit them with a cocktail of chemicals to keep them alive and the absence of pests These chemicals pollute our streams and damage the ecosystem of our gardens.
Prof Helen Woolley, head of the University of Sheffield’s department of geography, added: “The value of this research is that it tells the value of a particular landscape and how it relates to agendas. socio-environmental diversity. Many residents quickly realized the value of their home gardens during the pandemic lockdown, and this worksheet builds on and reinforces what we’ve learned. It’s important designers and planners will look.”