The benefits of natural and landscaped green spaces and plants are not
just limited to the environment, say officials at Landscape Ontario.
According to research gathered by the not-for-profit organization,
green spaces can improve children’s self-esteem, lower crime rates,
increase mood, encourage social interaction and even reduce road rage.
The research provides proof that green spaces not only make communities
look better, but feel better as well.
The following are a few of the research highlights on the benefits of green spaces compiled by Landscape Ontario:
- Lowers Crime and Enhances Self-esteem: A 30 year study
conducted by researchers at Morton Arboretum revealed when landscaping
projects are promoted in communities, neighbourhoods, housing projects
and prisons, self esteem increases and vandalism decreases.
- Beneficial to Children: Green spaces can boost
children’s attentional resources and, “green spaces may enable children
to think more clearly and cope more effectively with life’s stress,”
according to a study published in Environment and Behavior.
- Create Communities: “Green spaces are gathering places
that create close-knit communities and improve well-being—and in doing
so, they increase safety”, according to studies conducted by the Human
Environment Research Laboratory at the University of Illinois
Urbana-Champaign. Another study conducted at a Chicago public housing
development revealed similar results. Residents of buildings with more
trees and grass reported that they knew their neighbors better,
socialized with them more often, had stronger feelings of community and
felt safer and better adjusted than did residents of more barren, but
otherwise identical buildings.
- Road Rage Reduction: A University of Washington study
has revealed road rage may be less likely to occur when nature is in
view. The “immunization effect” reveals the degree of negative response
to a stressful experience is less if a view of nature preceded the
stressful situation.
- Enhances Mood: Gardening and yard work contribute to
healthy, active living both physically and emotionally. Horticulture
therapists have discovered that gardening provides a form of emotional
expression and release, and it helps people connect with others.
“It’s common knowledge that planting trees and creating green spaces is
good for the environment,” said Denis Flanagan of Landscape Ontario.
“We wanted to inform people of the little known social benefits of
‘greening’ in hopes it will encourage residents to create more green
spaces and in turn, better communities.”
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