Image credits: Jonathan Hanna, Unsplash
Urban garden spaces can come in the form of community farms, rooftop gardens, backyard plots, and edible landscaping. In this section we focus on garden spaces for cultivation. Garden spaces provide therapeutic and community building benefits and can be designed to maximize biodiversity support. Garden spaces can be incorporated into various typologies to promote their human health and biodiversity benefits.
Gardens can incorporate diverse plant assemblages including locally rare or threatened native species that also support local soil fauna. Urban gardens provide pollination, seed dispersal, and pest management services to neighboring landscapes, and support birds and arthropods. In addition, wildlife friendly gardens can improve urban habitat connectivity and quality.
Garden spaces provide access to fresh produce and opportunities for gardening, which has benefits to mental and physical health. Past studies have also revealed the antidepressant effects of gardening, including on individuals with disabilities. Community-based gardening provides opportunities for social interactions and increased exposure to nature and sunlight outdoors.
Many people have a cultural preference for highly manicured gardens dominated by exotic annuals, and diverse gardens with native plants can be viewed as less beautiful and inviting. Wildlife are also often seen as pests within urban gardens. While beneficial insects are welcome, barriers to safely separate wildlife-dedicated space from productive areas may be needed.
