News from the gardening world
Guide lists plants to combat pollutants
Garden plants can help reduce pollution in towns and cities, a new report has said. In advance of this week’s national Clean Air Day (Thursday, June 21), the project, led by the University of London, has produced a ‘citizen’s toolkit’ to help those planting private, public or community gardens to improve air quality.
Compiled by sociologist Professor Jennifer Gabrys and her Citizen Sense research group, the document includes guidance for identifying the best locations, along with approaches for creating and managing plantings, citing examples around London.
Plants in the report were selected for their suitability to either reduce pollutants by trapping particles from the air, absorbing substances internally via their roots or leaves or by acting as indicators when different types and levels of pollution are present.
Among the best indicators are asters, which reveal high levels of ozone by yellowing their foliage, and evergreen shrub osmanthus, whose leaves are damaged when exposed to sulphur dioxide.
One of the most surprising and valuable plants listed is ivy, often considered a nuisance by gardeners. The guide describes it as ‘ideal for air purification’. Similarly effective is Lady’s mantle, Alchemilla mollis, which has been found to reduce nitrogen dioxide levels found in car fumes by up to 40 per cent.
“This ‘citizen’s toolkit’ is designed to equip people with the knowledge and inspiration to plant gardens that can improve air quality and enhance the urban realm,” said Professor Gabrys.
l Visit www.gold.ac.uk/news/ phyto-sensor and www. cleanairday.org.uk.