College News
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26 Jun 2024
Dr Pam Berry, Geography Fellow of Mansfield and Senior Research Fellow at the Environmental Change Institute (ECI) has contributed to the design of a garden for human well-being and biodiversity, now on display at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Along with fellow ECI researcher Alison Smith, Pam supported the efforts of the garden designer Andrew Duff, Managing Director of the Inchbald School of Design, to create a Bronze Medal winning garden.
‘The Savills and David Harber Garden’ promotes the importance of protecting green spaces in cities. The garden design seeks to create a beautiful, sustainable woodland clearing, intended for an urban setting. Urban areas are increasingly facing a number of environmental challenges, such as climate change, pollution, water management, and biodiversity loss. The ECI’s research examines the causes and impacts of these environmental changes and develops management strategies for them, particularly by means of nature-based solutions.
The different facets of ‘The Savills and David Harber Garden’ were specifically designed to include nature-based solutions. For example, the design includes large trees, which not only help reduce air pollution, but can shade a house in summer, reducing the temperature inside and the need for air conditioning. The design also includes wetland, which helps to moderate water flows and the risk of flooding. In total, the garden contains around 1000 perennial plants and 10,000 bi-annual species. Flowering plants provide food for pollinators, like bees. Overall, the garden as a whole creates a habitat to accommodate a range of species.
Pam Berry explains the positive impact that nature-based solutions can have:
“While gardens may seem small, if collective action is taken using nature-based solutions we can make a difference to our future living environment, and thus positively impact our own health and well-being. Also, by the careful selection of species, people can help create better conditions for biodiversity too.
By using nature-based solutions and by the careful selection of species people can help create better conditions for biodiversity. All this may not seem much, but gardens, especially if collective action is taken, can make a difference to our future living environment, and thus positively impact our own health and well-being.”
See the garden featured at 2.55 on BBC iPlayer.
