IN-PERSON Lisbon Livable Cities. Section A

Abstract

Domestic gardens, covering about one-third of urban areas worldwide, hold significant potential for climate change adaptation by providing ecosystem services. Their contribution depends on design, composition, and management – factors often influenced by how people interact with and use these private outdoor spaces. However, research on the specific role of garden use in shaping these aspects is limited. This study explores how household and parcel characteristics affect garden use, and how this, in turn, influences garden composition. Specifically, it aims to find discrepancies and potential improvements for climate change adaptation. For instance, many people may believe they require extensive paving or short-cut lawn for certain activities, which may not be the case. The study also assesses residents’ willingness to make changes and examines barriers to change. Data was collected through an online citizen science survey in Flanders, Belgium (n = 1,288) and Greater Manchester, UK (108) – two highly urbanized regions characterized by extensive soil sealing and urban sprawl – and analysed using multiple ordinal regression and correlation analyses. Preliminary findings show that gardens are mainly used for enjoying the view, relaxing, eating and drinking, and hosting guests. Most residents (81% and 68% respectively) are willing to adapt their gardens to support climate change adaptation, but face barriers including limited budgets, time, and expertise. Lack of space is perceived to be a greater constraint in Manchester, while Flanders faces more social pressure and household resistance. Garden use and composition are more strongly linked in Manchester, possibly due to greater overall diversity in Flemish gardens. Understanding how people use their gardens is crucial for developing effective policies and urban planning tailored to the needs of different households and neighbourhoods, ultimately maximizing the climate change adaptation potential of domestic gardens.