The environmental importance of front gardens

Abstract

The environmental importance of front gardens is examined in the context of climate change. Domestic front gardens help to absorb carbon dioxide, soak up rainfall and thus reduce flooding risks, provide open spaces for pleasant townscapes, protect biodiversity reserves and help conserve energy through shade and shelter. The continuing loss of front gardens is a result of increasing car ownership, off-street parking pressures, changes in garden fashion, wider lifestyle changes and perhaps also the absence in some cultures of any garden tradition. At a time of climatic uncertainty there are many positive ways in which a multi-purpose approach to front gardens can allow parking while retaining a green garden. The planning system is needed to ensure national awareness of the environmental importance of front gardens. The significance of their increasing loss and a multiple-use approach to alleviate the problems caused by current trends are discussed.