Greener front gardens could help combat air pollution and summer heat

Your front garden could be a first line of defence against air pollution, according to a year-long field study in two London neighbourhoods. The UK’s 26m gardens cover nearly 5% of the country’s land area, but they account for a much larger share in urban areas. In Greater London, domestic gardens cover 41% of the city, compared with 27% of Cardiff and 23% of Edinburgh. Previous studies have shown that, apart from providing direct access to green space, gardens have wider benefits for mental health , biodiversity and flood resilience.

Research from the 1980s found that patients recovering from surgery who could see trees from their hospital windows recovered faster. In the first study of its kind, researchers measured air pollution in eight gardens alongside busy roads. One set of gardens was about 10 metres from North Circular Road in London; the other was about 15 metres from a busy road in the east of the city. The research found that gardens with hedges and plentiful vegetation had the lowest levels of particle pollution.

The best-performing garden had up to 80% lower particle pollution than paved gardens. Gardens with lawns also had stable and consistently low levels of air pollution. Hedges, shrubs and trees can alter the flow of air pollution from nearby roads. Plants can filter the air by trapping particles on their leaves, while gaseous pollutants can be absorbed through pores in the leaves. While the gardens shielded homes from local air pollution, they offer less protection in spring, when air pollution from agriculture and farming could spread across wide areas.

View image in fullscreen A front-garden hedge can improve local air quality near the home. Photograph: Stephen Power/Alamy Paved gardens had the highest temperatures and highest levels of air pollution. In summer, temperatures could be up to 6C (43F) hotter than in gardens with abundant vegetation. Prof Prashant Kumar, of the University of Surrey, who coordinated the study , said: “The cooling effect is especially clear. Given the recent hot summers in the UK, keeping plants in front gardens could make a meaningful difference, particularly during hot nights.

“Greener front gardens can deliver real benefits. A front-garden hedge can help improve local air quality near the home. If air pollution is reduced directly outside the home, it is reasonable to expect that less pollution may enter indoors.” Dr Karina Corada-Pérez, of the University of East London and first author of the study, said: “Our message is simple: keep gardens green wherever possible. The pressure to pave front gardens is very real.

We recognise why many residents pave front gardens, including the need for low-maintenance spaces or off-street parking.” She said there was a clear opportunity to design front gardens that met practical household needs while retaining vegetation. “We need guidance and incentives that balance parking, accessibility and maintenance with the health, climate and environmental benefits of greener front gardens,” Corada-Pérez said. Explore more on these topics Air pollution Pollutionwatch London Gardens Summer features Share Reuse this content