399
Mayer et al. (2012) explored whether voluntary incentives were effective at distributing storm water management throughout a small suburban catchment, and
whether the number and placement of rain gardens and rain barrels were sufficient
to alter the hydrology, water quality and aquatic biology of the catchment. In total,
83 rain gardens and 176 rain barrels were installed onto more than 30% of the 350
eligible residential properties in a 1.8 km
2
catchment area in Ohio, USA. The intervention had an overall small but statistically significant effect of decreasing storm
water quantity at the sub-watershed scale. In a similar study in the same area (Shuster
and Rhea 2013; Roy et al. 2014), the installation of 81 rain gardens and 165 rain
barrels at four experimental areas was compared to two control areas. In contrast,
Case Study: Bristol Street Green Screens, Birmingham, England, UK
Bristol Street in Birmingham is a dual carriageway with a wide grassed central reservation along which runs, almost continuously, a metal highway
pedestrian guardrail. This greening intervention involved fitting green vegetated screens to 141 m of existing guardrail. Installation of the green screens
was completed in 2015 costing approximately €29,000. Follow-up analysis of
particulate matter (PM 10 , PM 2.5 and PM 1 ) 2 months post installation showed
significant increases (p < .001) of particulates on green screen leaves in comparison to nursery stock of the same plants. In addition to the potential air
quality improvement role of the green screens, they also improve the aesthetics of the street and may benefit local businesses through increased pedestrian
traffic. The green screens require minimal maintenance and through utilizing
existing infrastructure may provide a cost-efficient and practical solution to
increasing green space within dense urban areas (Fig. 17.3).
Fig. 17.3 The left panel shows Bristol Street, Birmingham in 2014 before green screen
implementation and the right panel shows the street in 2016 after green screen implementation as part of the Bristol Street Green Screens Trial Project, Birmingham, UK. (Image:
Chris Rance)
17 Environmental, Health and Equity Effects of Urban Green Space Interventions
Mayer et al. (2012) explored whether voluntary incentives were effective at distributing storm water management throughout a small suburban catchment, and
whether the number and placement of rain gardens and rain barrels were sufficient
to alter the hydrology, water quality and aquatic biology of the catchment. In total,
83 rain gardens and 176 rain barrels were installed onto more than 30% of the 350
eligible residential properties in a 1.8 km
2
catchment area in Ohio, USA. The intervention had an overall small but statistically significant effect of decreasing storm
water quantity at the sub-watershed scale. In a similar study in the same area (Shuster
and Rhea 2013; Roy et al. 2014), the installation of 81 rain gardens and 165 rain
barrels at four experimental areas was compared to two control areas. In contrast,
Case Study: Bristol Street Green Screens, Birmingham, England, UK
Bristol Street in Birmingham is a dual carriageway with a wide grassed central reservation along which runs, almost continuously, a metal highway
pedestrian guardrail. This greening intervention involved fitting green vegetated screens to 141 m of existing guardrail. Installation of the green screens
was completed in 2015 costing approximately €29,000. Follow-up analysis of
particulate matter (PM 10 , PM 2.5 and PM 1 ) 2 months post installation showed
significant increases (p < .001) of particulates on green screen leaves in comparison to nursery stock of the same plants. In addition to the potential air
quality improvement role of the green screens, they also improve the aesthetics of the street and may benefit local businesses through increased pedestrian
traffic. The green screens require minimal maintenance and through utilizing
existing infrastructure may provide a cost-efficient and practical solution to
increasing green space within dense urban areas (Fig. 17.3).
Fig. 17.3 The left panel shows Bristol Street, Birmingham in 2014 before green screen
implementation and the right panel shows the street in 2016 after green screen implementation as part of the Bristol Street Green Screens Trial Project, Birmingham, UK. (Image:
Chris Rance)
17 Environmental, Health and Equity Effects of Urban Green Space Interventions