Urban Gardens

CONTEXT

Recent studies have found that around 16% of Spanish adults are obese and almost 40% are overweight. Poor quality food that is high in fat and low in fibre and a lack of regular physical exercise and sport constitute the main causes of obesity and associated chronic diseases. For this reason it is essential for local governments to establish preventive measures.

The scientific evidence shows that the regular practice of physical activity has numerous benefits for physical and mental health, resulting in a better quality of life. The WHO (World Health Organization) recommends at least 30 minutes of physical activity every day for adults.

It is calculated that the global cost of mental health disorders in 2010 was $2.5 trillion, and that these costs could be as much as $6 trillion in 2030. Many factors play a role in the appearance of mental health disorders, including social, psychological and biological factors, in addition to the environment in which we live, particularly the characteristics of the urban environment. Physical activity helps improve mental health. Moreover, green and blue spaces in or near to cities have been associated with better mental health conditions (e.g. less risk of the symptoms of depression, psychological anguish, etc.). More specifically, the implementation of urban gardens has been associated with a diet richer in fruit and vegetables, more physical activity, better mental health and more social contacts.

Urban gardens are small-scale cultivation spaces within the city that are integrated into the landscape and socially useful. It is a method of incorporating public green spaces into urban spaces that contributes in various ways to improving health and, therefore, a better quality of life for users in the following manner: 1) they promote healthy food, 2) they foster socialisation and the creation of social networks, 3) they contribute to increasing regular physical activity, 4) they stimulate active ageing, 5) they increase personal autonomy, self-esteem and self-confidence, 6) they help reduce stress and enable the recovery of mental balance, 7) they favour breaking the mould of passivity (inactivity, watching television, smoking, etc.), 8) they help reduce levels of contaminating gases, and 9) they help mitigate the accumulation of heat in cities.

The necessary changes in terms of governance related to the economy and agriculture, due to the need to adapt to and mitigate climate change, will help foster the self-production or co-production of local food or urban garden crops in cities, which will help there to be more ecological, and therefore healthier, products.

OBJECTIVE

Act on the environment of the cities through the creation of urban gardens to foster physical activity, promote mental health and a good diet in the population, and increase social cohesion.

PROPOSALS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Plan, design and develop a municipal urban garden proposal based on the potential spaces and the existing demand. It is necessary to involve the rest of the council departments and possible user groups right from the start of the project.
Include training on sustainable agriculture and good practices in the project.
Public spaces where urban gardens can be located are: municipal plots, urban parks and gardens, educational centres, day centres and old people's homes, health centres, civic centres, etc.
It is necessary to include shaded areas and benches within the enclosure of urban gardens, given that they are places where people can meet and interact.
The facilities and the space necessary for composting and roads to allow machinery to enter, etc. should also be planned.
Promote environmental education through urban gardens, teaching schoolchildren and other groups about the agricultural world and the principles of ecological agriculture.
Set the requirements to be met by the interested parties (e.g. be older than 65, not own any rural plots, etc.).
Set regulations for the use of the granted space (e.g. ecological agriculture, self-consumption, etc.).

REFERENCE EXPERIENCES

Information only available in Catalan

Ajuntament del Prat de Llobregat. Horts lúdics municipals.
Generalitat de Catalunya. Departament de Política territorial i Obres Públiques. La implantació dels horts urbans. Compilació d'experiències pràctiques.
Institut National du Patrimoine, 2007. Du jardin ouvrier au jardin partagé: un rôle social et environmental.
L'Hort de Montblanc.
Experiències de Tarpuna
Hort comunitari de Ca n'Anglada
Horts socials - Ajuntament de Manlleu
Horts del Lledoner - Ajuntament de Granollers, Caritas i Tarpuna
Horts socials - Ajuntament de l'Hospitalet de Llobregat
Hort social - Ajuntament d'Igualada
Projecte d'inclusió social a través de l'agricultura ecològica - Ajuntament de Sant Cugat del Vallès i L'Ortiga

LEGISLATION

Llei 18/2009, de 22 d'octubre, de salut pública. L’article 6 d'aquesta llei estableix que entre les prestacions que han de proporcionar les administracions públiques en matèria de salut pública hi són: la promoció de la salut mental de la població i la prevenció dels factors de risc en aquest àmbit i la promoció de l'activitat física i l'alimentació saludable.