scholarly journals The Effects of Urban Natural Environments on Preference and Self-Reported Psychological Restoration of the Elderly

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 509
Author(s):  
Ling Qiu ◽  
Qujing Chen ◽  
Tian Gao
Keyword(s):  
Green Space ◽  
Environmental Design ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Photo Elicitation ◽  
Natural Environments ◽  
The World ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Aging Populations

The world is facing the challenge of aging populations. Urban natural environments, including green spaces and blue spaces, have been demonstrated to have great benefits to the mental restoration of the elderly. However, the study of the specific characteristics of urban environments that are popular and the most restorative for the elderly is still lacking. Photo elicitation as visual stimuli was utilized to explore the differences in preference and psychological restoration of the elderly through the perception of the eight perceived sensory dimensions (PSDs) in different types of urban environments. The results showed that: (1) The respondents had different perceptions of the eight PSDs in the different urban natural environments. Blue space and partly-closed green space were more preferred by the elderly, and also had more psychological restorative effects on the elderly. (2) There was no significant correlation between the number of highly perceived PSDs and preference, as well as between the number of highly perceived PSDs and psychological restoration. However, there was a significant correlation between preference and psychological restoration. (3) Partly-closed green space with more Serene and Refuge qualities, and blue space with more Serene, Refuge and Prospect properties were optimal characteristics for psychological restoration of the elderly. In addition, open green space with more Prospect, Serene and Social qualities, and closed green space with more Space, Refuge and less Nature properties could also increase psychological restoration of older adults. These findings can provide useful guidelines for restorative environmental design for the elderly in the future.

scholarly journals Impact of urban green spaces, native tree species and seasons on soil pH in Kaunas, Lithuania

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 257-262 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lina Straigytė ◽  
Tadas Vaidelys ◽  
Remigijus Žalkauskas ◽  
Michael Manton
Keyword(s):  
Soil Ph ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Betula Pendula ◽  
Green Space ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Tilia Cordata ◽  
Acer Platanoides ◽  
Urban Green Spaces ◽  
Different Types

Tree growth is sensitive to soil pH in urban areas and is often higher than in rural forest. However, there are knowledge gaps on how soil pH and alkalization are affected by urban environments and seasonal climate as well as the cascading effects on tree species. In order to fulfill these gaps, we analyzed the soil pHCaCl of four common native deciduous tree species: Acer platanoides, Tilia cordata, Quercus robur and Betula pendula in five different types of urban green spaces in Kaunas city municipality (Lithuania). The results show that soil pH in urban environments with Betula pendula sites were most alkaline (pH 7.04), whereas the soil pH of urban environments with Acer platanoides (pH 6.7) and Tilia cordata (pH 6.8) were most acidic. The soil pH of street tree greeneries was alkaline, while soils of peri-urban forests and large urban parks were acidic. Differently to natural conditions in peri urban forests the soil pH level drop down by 0.5 is observed during spring-autumn period in broad street greeneries with largest urban pressure. The variation in soil pH of the different types of green space and tree species shows that city planner should consider the unique conditions of all green space to maximize their potential for human well-being.

scholarly journals Public Visual Preference for Dead Wood in Different Types of Landscape

Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 44
Author(s):  
Ling Qiu ◽  
Na Yu ◽  
Yanan Gao ◽  
Tian Zhang ◽  
Tian Gao
Keyword(s):  
Green Space ◽  
Dead Wood ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Natural Environments ◽  
Recreational Facility ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Related Group ◽  
Questionnaire Surveys ◽  
Group B

Although dead wood is considered to be one of the most reliable indicators for measuring the level of biodiversity, it was still seemingly unpopular with the public. In order to identify the public’s preferences for dead wood and explore the driving factors for it, this study investigated academic-related group and layman group preferences for a variety of forms of dead wood in different types of environment through the use of questionnaire surveys. The results showed: (a) The participants preferred the urban natural environments with dead wood, especially the layman group; (b) the existence of dead wood in semi-open/semi-closed green space and blue space was most likely to be appreciated; (c) the participants most liked the dead wood with a peculiar shape in the semi-open/semi-closed and the closed green space, and a regular shape in the open green space; (d) the information of landscape appreciation had the greatest positive influence on public’s dead wood preference, followed by the information of recreational facility and ecological education, and the information of “leading the way” was the least; (e) the present findings serve to provide a practical guidance for future optimal planning of urban environments from urban biodiversity and human recreation aspects.

Providing an Attractive Environment for People to Engage in Health Activities

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 38-54
Author(s):  
Hung-Pin Hsu
Keyword(s):  
Green Space ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Natural Environments ◽  
Forest Park ◽  
Active Service ◽  
Taipei City ◽  
Use Of Social Media ◽  
The City ◽  
Depth Interviews

Parks and green spaces have been allocated for city residents to offer them healthier natural environments. However, people living in cities may have less opportunity to engage with the natural environment since parks seem to be passive locations of activity. We investigated how to proactively enhance the attraction of green space to improve people's health. First, we surveyed how 683 city residents were engaged in physical activities. From them, 30 people were recruited for depth interviews. Results showed that the park environment and the health activities that feature ‘inner-attraction' could enhance the frequency and persistence of the city residents to engage in healthy activities. We also evaluated the service experience and attraction of 40 users in a 3-month program in the Daan Forest Park of Taipei City in Taiwan. Using the culture probes method, we found that the experience cycle and the use of social media enhanced the park's inner and inter attraction, and that the role of the park was transformed from a passive green space provider to an active service operator.

scholarly journals Assessing the Coverage of Urban Green Space in Butwal Sub-Metropolitan City, Nepal: A GIS based Approach

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
pp. 77-86
Author(s):  
Mahendra Singh Thapa ◽  
Gokul Poudel
Keyword(s):  
Green Space ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Landsat 8 ◽  
Urban Green ◽  
Urban Green Spaces ◽  
Metropolitan City ◽  
Object Oriented Approach ◽  
Materialistic Values ◽  
Urban Places

Urban green spaces are integral part of urban infrastructure. Green spaces can offer a number of benefits ranging from inner spiritual to outer materialistic values. Available green spaces in particular area especially in urban places need to be identified and located properly with scientific way and means so that we can use those places in emergency caused by natural or human induced hazards. This study has tried to measure the green space available for people dwelling in Butwal Sub-Metropolitan City of Nepal. An attempt was made to quantify green spaces in urban environments from Landsat 8 OLI imageries using object-oriented approach and field verification. The study concluded that the total green space available in Butwal Sub-Metropolitan City is 86.37 km2 i.e., around 86% of total municipal area and per capita green space is around 623 m2.

scholarly journals “I Would Never Come Here Because I’ve Got My Own Garden”: Older Adults’ Perceptions of Small Urban Green Spaces

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (11) ◽  
pp. 1994 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vanessa G. Macintyre ◽  
Sarah Cotterill ◽  
Jamie Anderson ◽  
Chris Phillipson ◽  
Jack S. Benton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Photo Elicitation ◽  
Urban Green ◽  
Urban Green Spaces ◽  
Health And Wellbeing ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Improve Health

Green spaces are known to improve health and wellbeing via several mechanisms, such as by reducing stress and facilitating physical activity. However, little is known about the impact of the smaller green spaces typically found in urban environments on wellbeing, especially for older adults. This study investigated experiences in adults (5 males and 10 females) aged 60 years and over of small urban green spaces in a large UK city. Fifteen older adults were interviewed using semi-structured walk-along interviews and photo elicitation methods in Old Moat, Greater Manchester. Twelve of the participants lived in Old Moat at the time of the study, and the remaining three participants previously lived in Old Moat and were frequent visitors. Transcribed interviews were analyzed using Thematic Analysis. Smaller urban green spaces were perceived differently to large green spaces, and participants were more likely to use larger green spaces such as parks. The smaller green spaces were perceived as belonging to other people, which discouraged the older adults from using them. The older adults also emphasized the importance of taking care of small urban green spaces and preventing them from becoming overgrown. Urban planners should consider these factors, since they indicate that the size and type of urban green spaces may influence whether they improve health and wellbeing. Further research should investigate in more detail which types of urban green space are most conducive to facilitating physical activity and improving wellbeing.

scholarly journals COVID-19 Changed Human-Nature Interactions across Green Space Types: Evidence of Change in Multiple Types of Activities from the West Bank, Palestine

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (24) ◽  
pp. 13831
Author(s):  
Emad B. Dawwas ◽  
Karen Dyson
Keyword(s):  
Green Space ◽  
West Bank ◽  
Urban Parks ◽  
Home Gardens ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Activity Participation ◽  
Natural Environments ◽  
Natural Areas ◽  
The West ◽  
Urban Green Spaces

COVID-19 stay-at-home orders impacted the way humans interacted with built and natural environments. Previous research on the human use of green spaces during the pandemic, largely conducted in a Western context, has found increased use of home gardens and urban green spaces, and decreased visitation to conservation areas. We explored changes in residents’ outdoor nature-associated activities during the pandemic in the West Bank, Palestine. We used a web-based survey to ask residents about their passive, interactive, and extractive outdoor activities that take place in home gardens, urban parks, and natural areas. Overall, our 1278 respondents spent less time with family and friends and more time alone. We found differences in respondent’s participation in activities both between green space types and between activity types. Participation in passive appreciation of nature activities increased for home gardens but decreased in urban parks and natural areas. Interactive activities, including cultivation, increased for all areas, while extractive activities stayed the same or decreased. Only in natural areas did respondents’ demographics explain changes in activity participation rates after the pandemic. Residents’ increased time alone raises concerns about mental health. The differences we observed in activity participation across green space types highlights the importance of looking across different types of natural spaces and different activities in the same setting, as well as examining non-Western settings.

Providing an Attractive Environment for People to Engage in Health Activities

2019 ◽  
pp. 1671-1689
Author(s):  
Hung-Pin Hsu
Keyword(s):  
Green Space ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Natural Environments ◽  
Forest Park ◽  
Active Service ◽  
Taipei City ◽  
Use Of Social Media ◽  
The City ◽  
Depth Interviews

Parks and green spaces have been allocated for city residents to offer them healthier natural environments. However, people living in cities may have less opportunity to engage with the natural environment since parks seem to be passive locations of activity. We investigated how to proactively enhance the attraction of green space to improve people's health. First, we surveyed how 683 city residents were engaged in physical activities. From them, 30 people were recruited for depth interviews. Results showed that the park environment and the health activities that feature ‘inner-attraction' could enhance the frequency and persistence of the city residents to engage in healthy activities. We also evaluated the service experience and attraction of 40 users in a 3-month program in the Daan Forest Park of Taipei City in Taiwan. Using the culture probes method, we found that the experience cycle and the use of social media enhanced the park's inner and inter attraction, and that the role of the park was transformed from a passive green space provider to an active service operator.

scholarly journals Evidences of plant blindness in a Brazilian urban green space with plaqued trees

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (43) ◽  
pp. e151370
Author(s):  
Matheus Colli-Silva ◽  
Ana Clara Salama Corsi ◽  
Jônatas De Jesus Florentino ◽  
Lui Agostinho Teixeira ◽  
Suzana Ursi
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Green Space ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Urban Green ◽  
Urban Green Spaces ◽  
Paulo State ◽  
Green Area ◽  
Urban Green Area ◽  
Different Types

Plant blindness is a recurrent issue in many urban green spaces. As an element of biodiversity perception, it is socially and individually determined. This paper brings up evidences of plant blindness through a quali-quantitative analysis of 49 interviews on an urban green area of the São Paulo state whose several trees have been recently plaqued. Respondents were not able to correctly identify plant elements and undervalued richness of different types of plants. Despite pointing out the necessity of green spaces in improving quality of life, respondents underestimated the importance of maintaining not only a green space, but a biodiverse one. We discuss the perception of a “good” green space is less associated with species richness, and more with passers-by expectations on a green space and with an innate plant blindness. We suppose informative plaques may play a role in reduce plant blindness, since plaques individualize plants that were once seen as components of a monotonous green landscape.

scholarly journals Earthways: Opportunity, Community and Meaning in the Personal Garden

2008 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renate Sander-Regier
Keyword(s):  
Natural Environment ◽  
Green Space ◽  
Urban Community ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Outdoor Setting ◽  
Hybrid Space ◽  
Meaningful Relationships ◽  
Access To Nature

The hybrid space of the personal garden offers valuable opportunities for individuals to express themselves personally in an outdoor setting, to develop meaningful relationships with green spaces, and to connect with the greater natural environment and urban community, as demonstrated in the works of contemporary gardener-authors Marjorie Harris, Sara Stein, and Leon Whiteson. These opportunities are particularly significant in urban environments where access to nature and green space is limited, and where gardening activities can contribute to the health of the natural environment, the wellbeing of people involved in the space, and the vitality of the community at large.

scholarly journals From XS to XL Urban Nature: Examining Access to Different Types of Green Space Using a ‘Just Sustainabilities’ Framework

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (17) ◽  
pp. 6998 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dong-ah Choi ◽  
Keunhyun Park ◽  
Alessandro Rigolon
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Green Space ◽  
Climate Adaptation ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Census Block ◽  
Structural Racism ◽  
Urban Green Spaces ◽  
Sociodemographic Differences ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Neighborhood Parks

Different types of urban green spaces provide diverse benefits for human health and environmental sustainability, but most studies on access to green space focus on neighborhood parks, with less work on smaller or larger green spaces. In this study, we examined sociodemographic differences in access to green spaces of different sizes for 14,385 census block groups in 12 U.S. cities using a ‘just sustainabilities’ framework. We classified green spaces into street-level greenery (XS), neighborhood parks (S–L; walking and cycling access), and large parks (XL; walking, cycling, and driving access). We ran spatial filtering models at the census block group level using different thresholds based on transportation modes. We uncovered a complex picture of inequality, with consistent injustices for XS green space, and fewer injustices for S–L and XL green space based on socioeconomic status and age, and some instances of just distributions for S–L and XL green space based on race/ethnicity. Our findings present a concerning picture for ‘just sustainabilities’: the green space type that is most often part of sustainability and climate adaptation strategies—street greenery—is unjustly distributed, likely as a result of structural racism in U.S. institutions. By examining multimodal access to green spaces of different sizes, this study helps urban greening professionals develop more just and sustainable strategies.

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