'Greener Grangetown' research study underway

There is growing evidence that contact with green spaces improves health, wellbeing and social cohesion and Cardiff Council's  'Greener Grangetown' project has provided an opportunity to formally evaluate the impact on residents of Grangetown.

Cardiff Council originally started the project to reduce flooding from surface water in suburban areas around the city and to improve the environment along part of the River Taff by creating more green spaces. The Greener Grangetown project will see the creation of leafy green avenues in the area, with the planting of an extra 120 trees and creating 1,600m2 of additional green space, reducing the amount of rainwater going into the sewers to be treated and in turn decreasing the city's carbon footprint.

In association with Cardiff Council, Natural Resources Wales and Dŵr Cymru, academics from Cardiff University are seizing the opportunity to use the project to research into the impact of green spaces on people's health and wellbeing. Researchers in the Schools of Medicine, Engineering and Psychology have teamed up to issue 550 questionnaires to residents that will be affected by the Greener Grangetown project in a hope to formally demonstrate that increased access to green space will improve health, wellbeing and social cohesion. The study, which is funded by the University's Flagship Engagement Project Community Gateway, will measure outcomes in Grangetown residents at the beginning of the project and 12 months after completion of the Greener Grangetown project to highlight impact.

The findings of the study will be written up as a research paper and a report and circulated to stakeholders, residents, Cardiff Council and housing procurement decision-makers and will hopefully result in the implementation of similar schemes if it is found to be beneficial to residents.

For more information on the project or to get involved please contact Community Gateway: communitygateway@cardiff.ac.uk