Community voices on outdoor gyms: A qualitative study among municipal officials and residents from Arab localities in Israel

February 11, 2026

We interviewed ten municipal officials and 23 residents in four Arab towns, and observed five outdoor gyms. We wanted to understand how outdoor gyms are perceived, what barriers limit their use, and what strategies could make them more effective. This was the first study of its kind in Arab towns in Israel, but it also speaks to underserved communities worldwide where informal urban development and limited resources shape access to healthy environments.

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Hidden barriers: How citizen characteristics relate to perceived (un)availability of health promoting facilities

February 11, 2026

Significant health inequalities exist between neighbourhoods. Apart from differences in demographics, the neighbourhood environment including facilities has also been found to have a sizeable effect. Despite various health-promoting facilities being objectively available in neighbourhoods, not all citizens perceive them to be available to them. Therefore, some citizens might not make use of important facilities that improve their health. We need to know more about what predicts perceiving facilities as available besides them being objectively there.

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Understanding gardening for wildlife in London’s private residential gardens

February 9, 2026

We wanted to understand the types of gardening for wildlife taking place in London’s private gardens and the influence of demographic factors on the likelihood to garden for wildlife. We sent out a digital questionnaire to ask Londoners about their gardening for wildlife practices and their age, gender, ethnicity, religious beliefs, occupation, household income, accommodation type, home ownership status, garden type, shared garden or not, dependents, and conservation-organisation membership status.

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Adolescents’ ideal park: Usage, benefits and preferences

February 7, 2026

Green spaces bring several health benefits. However, adolescents’ infrequent use of green spaces, especially in southern European cities like Porto, can be attributed to cultural and contextual factors, including limited green space, maintenance issues, and equipment scarcity. Thus, there has been a great push to enhance green space provision. However, achieving effective greening interventions requires understanding user perspectives, addressing barriers, and considering various age and socioeconomic groups to ensure universal access and youth-friendly spaces.

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The role of greenness during the COVID-19 pandemic

February 6, 2026

Residing in a neighbourhood with higher greenness within 400 metres was associated with higher residential greenspace visitations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Policies towards scaling up and optimising residential greenness may constitute important interventions for enhancing population-level resilience during public health emergencies.

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Nature-inspired urban design for the socially complex Liffey Boardwalk, Dublin, Ireland 

February 6, 2026

Interventions on riverfronts require close consideration of contextual ecological and social aspects. We adopted a research-by-design process to discuss nature-inspired urban design strategies in an Irish context.
• We conducted a desk study of academic literature and urban policies to establish the suitability of various methods for the site characteristics;
• We performed site analyses (site observations, footfall counting, photographic documentation) for an in-depth understanding of the existing conditions. We developed urban design scenarios to envision potential approaches, on which public feedback was sought.

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Natural spaces and depression in urban older adults: Exploring types, accessibility, and mediators

February 6, 2026

Increasing the availability of urban green spaces, even small pocket green spaces, should be considered a promising intervention for reducing depression among older individuals. Beyond 100m, urban green space protection diminishes. WHO recommends that the population have a green space within a 300m radius. However, for older people, this threshold may be too distant.
However, not all green spaces confer mental health benefits; therefore, researchers and professionals should consider the differential effects of different categories of greenery.

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Perceptions of design professionals regarding vertical greenery in buildings – A case of Delhi

February 6, 2026

Our study provides valuable insights by examining the obstacles and viewpoints regarding vertical greenery systems in Delhi. It highlights the technical challenges as significant adoption barriers among built environment professionals. Emphasizing the pivotal role of vertical greenery in climate change mitigation, this research advocates for further scholarly investigation and evidence-based policy formulation. This deepened understanding supports the seamless integration of vertical greenery systems into urban landscapes, fostering sustainability and resilience.

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The Emerald Isle or a Green Desert? Gardens as sites for city greening 

February 6, 2026

To create cities where both nature and humans thrive, the research outlines how city gardens are interconnected with the surrounding countryside and coast. A hands-on approach is needed to bring more nature into gardens through combining disciplines such as 1) environmental psychologists (unearthing different types of gardeners) 2) the horticultural industry (the know-how) and 3) the marketing/advertising industry (the storytellers). Aggregated actions of domestic gardeners could help policy-makers push for improved biodiversity restoration.

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