Disappearing Urban Green Spaces Leads To Increased Depression, Domestic Violence

Urban green spaces are essential for physical well-being and should be protected from permeating developers, warns a researcher.

A researcher has claimed that urban green spaces are essential for physical well-being. They should be protected from threats by permeating 'developers'.

Environmental biologist Ross Cameron, from the University of Reading, said that gardens have a range of social, physical, environmental and even psychological benefits and should be given the same protection as virgin countryside.

How Fast Climate Warming Could Kill Drought-stressed Trees
Scientists have discovered in experiments that the widespread die-off of drought-stressed trees across the southwestern United States during future droughts will occur at least five

He insists that UK gardens must be protected against a wave of "garden-grabbing" developers.

He added an estimated 32 sq km (7,900 acres) of gardens had been lost in London alone in the past five years as developers tried to build more homes on green spaces.

Cameron said studies with patients suffering mental health problems also showed that gardens helped to reduce stress.

He also warned that "garden-grabbing" could even "cost lives" if it exacerbates depression and other conditions.

"A recent report from Australia suggests gardening helps delay the onset of dementia in the elderly," Times Online quoted Cameron as saying.

"There is evidence from a study in Chicago that areas with greater greenery have less crime. The greatest reduction was in domestic violence, a stress-related crime," he added.

Green spaces could also help to cool cities as climate change warmed up our urban environments.

Source-ANI
TAN