Research: My Back Yard

Research summary

• January 2016 - ongoing

The project gathered evidence about the impact that domestic gardens have on urban green space and the benefits they provide.

Green spaces are essential to the healthy functioning of cities. Their many benefits, called ecosystem services, include helping to cool the air, improve air and water quality, absorb water, support wildlife and provide recreational spaces.

These services help us to cope with climate risks, such as flooding, air pollution, and the urban heat island.

While individually a domestic garden may appear insignificant, collectively they make up a fifth  of total area of Manchester and offer a valuable source of green space.

In spite of this, there was a lack of evidence about the quantity and quality of green space provided by domestic gardens.

My Back Yard improved our understanding of the ecosystem services that gardens provide in Manchester.

Researchers applied a novel method to find out how much green space was in every garden in the city. They combined survey responses from 1,000 residents and very detailed aerial imagery.

Results found that  only 50% of the average garden in Manchester is green space. This is because some gardens have been wholly or partly paved for driveways and patios or lost to the construction of new buildings and sheds.

This has a big impact on the total amount of green and blue (water) space in Manchester. The previous estimate of green and blue space, which assumed gardens were completely green, was 58%. It is now thought to be 49%.

Less green space in domestic gardens means reduced benefits, such as protection from flooding and improved air quality.  

Action to boost green space in gardens is important, especially because 21% of Manchester’s green and blue space is in domestic gardens.

Researchers worked with partner organisations on an action plan to increase green space and enhance wildlife in gardens. Several new initiatives are being led by the project partners.

The 1,000 survey respondents were invited to make the My Back Yard Pledge, and commit to action to improve green space and wildlife in their own gardens.