Urban Rewilding and Human Wellbeing

Half a century of construction, chemical weed control and vegetation removal has produced a severe reduction in urban that has left many city habitats far simpler than they once were.

In response, planners and community groups are increasingly adopting an approach known as urban , which deliberately allows natural processes to return in selected green spaces.

A particularly visible shift has been the move to cut back on the routine of grass verges, recreational areas and other publicly maintained land.

Allowing grass and wild flowers to grow taller provides essential food resources for such as bees, hoverflies and butterflies throughout the season.

Joining up otherwise isolated green areas via strips of suitable habitat creates migratory through which species can reach different sites, interbreed and expand into new territory.

Deliberately returning carefully selected to urban sites can trigger rapid ecological recovery by recreating the right conditions for other organisms.

Residents who live near well-managed, more natural report noticeably higher satisfaction with their local environment and daily life.

Studies are beginning to confirm that exposure to richer natural environments within cities produces measurable benefits for residents' , with evidence of reduced stress responses and improved concentration.

Beyond the ecological advantages, a greater density of vegetation helps cities cope with warmer temperatures by countering what is known as the effect, as plants create shade and release moisture into the air.