New guide outlines how green spaces such as parks and gardens make a positive contribution to quality of life

It’s well known that the green spaces surrounding us such as parks and gardens make a positive contribution to our quality of life. Yet, it appears green planting is becoming less of a focus for local authorities, which means quality green planting in new developments could soon become a thing of the past.

To help combat this issue the Horticultural Trades Association has joined forces with Chris Baines to develop the Greener Planning, Greener UK guide which highlights the ways in which government National Policy Indicators (NPIs) and therefore their Local Area Agreements can be achieved through greener planning, and scientifically proving how green planting can make a positive difference to the quality of life.

The guide suggests practical ways in which green planting can be incorporated into council policy. Planting not only impacts on people’s quality of life but it is scientifically proven to have a number of positive benefits:

• Significant reductions in stress and anxiety can be achieved within 5 minutes when viewing green landscapes. This can be measured through positive changes to blood pressure, pulse rate, muscle tension, and brain electrical activity
• In urban areas, just a 10% increase in tree coverage will counter the predicted 4oC temperature rise over the next 100 years caused by climate change and the urban heat island effect
• Plants can help reduce the summer energy load on buildings by 20%-40% as their shelter and shade reduce the need for mechanical air conditioning
• The provision of green areas around the workplace has been shown to reduce employee annual sick leave by as much as 23%, it can also reduce staff turnover and attract higher calibre job applicants
• Buildings which are set in well cared for green surroundings have been shown to suffer 32% fewer crimes
• Attractive gardens and the presence of trees in or near the garden can increase the value of property by 5-7%
• Hospital patients with a view of green space suffer less pain and recover more rapidly. Their requirement for medium to strong pain-killing drugs can be reduced by 25%