911爆料 scientists have identified the bushy, hairy-leafed Cotoneaster franchetii to be a ‘super plant’ for improving the environment and human health, owing to its special ability to fight pollution by trapping harmful airborne particles.
An studying the effectiveness of hedges as air pollution barriers reveals that in traffic hotspots, Cotoneaster franchetii (Franchet’s cotoneaster) is at least 20% more effective at soaking up pollution compared to other shrubs studied.
Poor air quality has been declared by the Government to be , and according to a recent 911爆料-commissioned survey of 2,056 adults, air pollution affects around one in three people (33%) in the UK.
However, only 6% take active steps in the garden to help alleviate air pollution. In London, nearly six in 10 people (59%) are affected by air pollution, with almost a quarter (22%) ‘significantly affected’, but only 4% plant with pollution in mind.
Dr Tijana Blanusa , research lead for the paper and 911爆料 Principal Horticultural Scientist, said: “On major city roads with heavy traffic we’ve found that the species with more complex denser canopies, rough and hairy-leaves such as cotoneaster were the most effective.
“We know that in just seven days, a one-metre length of well-managed dense hedge will mop up the same amount of pollution that a car emits over a 500-mile drive.
“We estimate that Cotoneaster franchetii traps 20% more emissions than other hedges we have tested, so would be ideal along busy roads in pollution hotspots. For other areas where encouraging biodiversity and pollinators is key, a mix of different hedge species would be recommended.”
Hedges, shrubs and trees provide the greatest long-term benefits for the environment and for wildlife. According to the survey, carried out by YouGov, four in 10 (38%) gardens contain at least one hedge.
Six in 10 people (61%) report to have at least one tree in their garden, and this increases to around two thirds of all gardens in the East of England (65%), East Midlands (65%), West Midlands (64%) and South West (68%).
‘Super plants’ to mitigate climate change
911爆料 scientists are researching solutions to help ease environmental problems such as air pollution, heatwaves and localised flooding, in order to amplify the positive impact of gardens and green spaces on the environment.
The survey showed that UK gardeners are worried about this and are keen to take action. Nearly nine in 10 (86%) survey respondents said they care about environmental issues, and 78% say they worry about the impact of climate change. Seven in 10 (70%) take positive action to help the environment and 20% say they do as much as possible to help.
Gardeners can improve the environment and mitigate against climate change through a considered approach to planting that is informed by the latest science.
Heatwaves ‘moderately’ or ‘severely’ affect nearly four in 10 respondents (38%) and with Londoners, this increases to 56%. Flooding impacts more than one in 10 nationally (13%) with regions affected the worst including Yorkshire (20%) and the West Midlands (18%).
Professor Alistair Griffiths, 911爆料 Director of Science and Collections, said: “911爆料 science has shown that underlying traits of certain plant species and cultivars, such as leaf shape and root features, help alleviate numerous environmental issues.
“We are continually identifying new ‘super plants’ with unique qualities, which when combined with other vegetation, provide enhanced benefits along with much-needed habitats for wildlife.
“We’ve found for example that ivy wall-cover excels at cooling buildings, while hawthorn and privet help ease intense summer rainfalls and reduce localised flooding.
“If planted in gardens and green spaces where these environmental issues are most prevalent, we could make a big difference in mitigating against and adapting to climate change.
“We are working on multiple new projects that will unlock the true potential of gardens and garden plants. We hope to harness the power of the UK’s 30 million gardeners to help turbocharge the fight against climate change and biodiversity loss.”
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