Private Gardens Research Articles

Use of wildlife-friendly structures in residential gardens by animal wildlife: evidence from citizen scientists in a global biodiversity hotspot

Private gardens comprise a large component of greenspace in cities and can offer substantial conservation opportunities. There has been strong advocacy from researchers, policymakers, and conservation practitioners to engage householders in wildlife-friendly gardening practices to increase the quantity, quality and connection of habitat resources for urban wildlife. Despite this call to action, there remains limited knowledge on the use and benefit of some wildlife-friendly structures within gardens, such as artificial refuges and water sources. In collaboration with 131 citizen scientists in southwestern Australia, we examined the use of seven wildlife-friendly structure types by four vertebrate taxa groups. Following 2841 wildlife surveys undertaken between 31 July 2022 and 22 February 2023, we found that all structures were used primarily by target taxa, water sources were often used by relatively common species, certain structures such as possum shelters were used by rare and threatened species (e.g. western ringtail possum), and that there was evidence of animals making use of the wildlife-friendly structures for reproduction (e.g. bird eggs in nest boxes and tadpoles in water sources). Water sources were used more frequently and by a greater diversity of wildlife than artificial refuges. In particular, bird baths were used by the highest number of species (mainly birds) while ponds were used by the greatest variety of taxa (birds, reptiles, frogs, mammals). Our findings provide evidence-based support for the advocacy of wildlife-friendly gardening practices and further highlight the role of residential gardens for biodiversity conservation.

The use of Enhanced Vegetation Index for assessing access to different types of green space in epidemiological studies

BackgroundExposure to green space can protect against poor health through a variety of mechanisms. However, there is heterogeneity in methodological approaches to exposure assessments which makes creating effective policy recommendations challenging.ObjectiveCritically evaluate the use of a satellite-derived exposure metric, the Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI), for assessing access to different types of green space in epidemiological studies.MethodsWe used Landsat 5–8 (30 m resolution) to calculate average EVI for a 300 m radius surrounding 1.4 million households in Wales, UK for 2018. We calculated two additional measures using topographic vector data to represent access to green spaces within 300 m of household locations. The two topographic vector-based measures were total green space area stratified by type and average private garden size. We used linear regression models to test whether EVI could discriminate between publicly accessible and private green space and Pearson correlation to test associations between EVI and green space types.ResultsMean EVI for a 300 m radius surrounding households in Wales was 0.28 (IQR = 0.12). Total green space area and average private garden size were significantly positively associated with corresponding EVI measures (β = < 0.0001, 95% CI: 0.0000, 0.0000; β = 0.0001, 95% CI: 0.0001, 0.0001 respectively). In urban areas, as average garden size increases by 1 m2, EVI increases by 0.0002. Therefore, in urban areas, to see a 0.1 unit increase in EVI index score, garden size would need to increase by 500 m2. The very small β values represent no ‘measurable real-world’ associations. When stratified by type, we observed no strong associations between greenspace and EVI.ImpactIt is a widely implemented assumption in epidiological studies that an increase in EVI is equivalent to an increase in greenness and/or green space.We used linear regression models to test associations between EVI and potential sources of green reflectance at a neighbourhood level using satellite imagery from 2018.We compared EVI measures with a ‘gold standard’ vector-based dataset that defines publicly accessible and private green spaces.We found that EVI should be interpreted with care as a greater EVI score does not necessarily mean greater access to publicly available green spaces in the hyperlocal environment.

Dynamic spatiotemporal changes of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in soil and eggs of private gardens at different distances from a fluorochemical plant

Homegrown food serves as an important human exposure source of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), yet little is known about their spatiotemporal distribution within and among private gardens. This knowledge is essential for more accurate site-specific risk assessment, identification of new sources and evaluating the effectiveness of regulations. The present study evaluated spatiotemporal changes of legacy and emerging PFAS in surface soil from vegetable gardens (N = 78) and chicken enclosures (N = 102), as well as in homegrown eggs (N = 134) of private gardens, across the Province of Antwerp (Belgium). Hereby, the potential influence of the wind orientation and distance towards a major fluorochemical plant was examined. The ∑short-chain PFAS and precursor concentrations were higher in vegetable garden soil (8.68 ng/g dry weight (dw)) compared to chicken enclosure soil (4.43 ng/g dw) and homegrown eggs (0.77 ng/g wet weight (ww)), while long-chain sulfonates and C11−14 carboxylates showed the opposite trend. Short-term (2018/2019–2022) changes were mostly absent in vegetable garden soil, while changes in chicken enclosure soils oriented S-SW nearby (<4 km) the fluorochemical plant were characterized by a local, high-concentration plume. Moreover, soil from chicken enclosures oriented SE and remotely from the plant site was characterized by a widespread, diffuse but relatively low-concentration plume. Long-term data (2010–2022) suggest that phaseout and regulatory measures have been effective, as PFOS concentrations nearby the fluorochemical plant in soil and eggs have declined from 25.8 to 2.86 ng/g dw and from 528 to 39.4 ng/g ww, respectively. However, PFOS and PFOA concentrations have remained largely stable within this timeframe in gardens remotely from the plant site, warranting further rapid regulation and remediation measures. Future monitoring efforts are needed to allow long-term comparison for multiple PFAS and better distinction from potential confounding variables, such as variable emission outputs and variability in wind patterns.

Applying optimized YOLOv8 for heritage conservation: enhanced object detection in Jiangnan traditional private gardens

This study aims to promote the protection and inheritance of cultural heritage in private gardens in the Jiangnan area of China. By establishing a precise visual labeling system and accelerating the construction of a database for private garden features, we deepen the understanding of garden design philosophy. To this end, we propose an improved Jiangnan private garden recognition model based on You Only Look Once (YOLO) v8. This model is particularly suitable for processing garden environments with characteristics such as single or complex structures, rich depth of field, and cluttered targets, effectively enhancing the accuracy and efficiency of object recognition. This design integrates the Diverse Branch Block (DBB), Bidirectional Feature Pyramid Network (BiFPN), and Dynamic Head modules (DyHead) to optimize model accuracy, feature fusion, and object detection representational capability, respectively. The enhancements elevated the model's accuracy by 8.7%, achieving a mean average precision (mAP@0.5) value of 57.1%. A specialized dataset, comprising 4890 images and encapsulating various angles and lighting conditions of Jiangnan private gardens, was constructed to realize this. Following manual annotation and the application of diverse data augmentation strategies, the dataset bolsters the generalization and robustness of the model. Experimental outcomes reveal that, compared to its predecessor, the improved model has witnessed increments of 15.16%, 3.25%, and 11.88% in precision, mAP0.5, and mAP0.5:0.95 metrics, respectively, demonstrating exemplary performance in the accuracy and real-time recognition of garden target elements. This research not only furnishes robust technical support for the digitization and intelligent research of Jiangnan private gardens but also provides a potent methodological reference for object detection and classification research in analogous domains.

A study on visual impact assessment of the enclosing wall entourage of Chinese traditional private garden

The enclosing wall is one of the key elements for traditional Chinese private garden. Its entourages are of great historical and cultural values, exerting a significant impact on the life quality of tourists, and especially urban residents. With the enclosing wall entourage of traditional Chinese private garden as research object, this study explored the influence of five landscape elements on respondents' visual impact assessment. The five landscape elements involved in this study were as follows: the number of plant species, the vertical structure of plants, the shielding factor, window, and stone. Three demographic variables, specifically gender, age, and education level, were taken into account as factors for the participants in this study. This study conducted a questionnaire survey, surveyed 339 citizens, and collected a total of 301 valid questionnaires. The analysis of how five distinct landscape elements affect participants' assessments of visual impact was conducted using a photo stimulation method. The findings demonstrate that each of the five landscape elements indeed influences participants' evaluations of visual impact. To be specific, the enclosing wall that wins great popularity among the respondents is featured with the following landscape elements: rich plant species, a vertical structure with three heights of plants, a medium shielding factor, a window on it, and the application of stone. Simultaneously, Chinese residents exhibiting diverse demographic attributes also yield varying assessments of visual impact concerning the distinct landscape elements within the enclosing wall surroundings.

Global disparities in urban green space use during the COVID-19 pandemic from a systematic review

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted urban resilience and challenged the use of urban green space (UGS). Previous studies lack consensus on whether UGS use increased or decreased during and after lockdowns and how this related to policy, economic conditions and UGS types. In a systematic review, we screened >3,000 articles in 5 languages, identifying 177 articles on UGS use changes in 60 countries. The cities studied show diverging changes in UGS use. Generally, decreases occurred where COVID-19 policies were stricter and the gross domestic product per capita was lower, including in most of the few studied areas of the Global South. All studies on private gardens and 60% on forests and other natural areas showed increases, while 77% of studies conducted on public parks indicated decreased use. The global disparity in UGS use was exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrating the need to enhance green infrastructure for healthy cities and to extend it beyond public parks.

HEAVY METALS ACCUMULATION IN BELL PEPPER (CAPSICUM L.) FROM PRIVATE GARDENS IN COPȘA MICĂ AREA

There are many studies that reported high levels of metals (Cd, Pb, Zn) content in soils and vegetation from area affected by historical contamination in Copșa Mică area. In the period 2019-2021, a study was carried out in order to assess the accumulation of heavy metals in bell pepper cultivated in private gardens from a contaminated area. During this study 62 individual households were visited and 124 samples (62 soil samples and 62 bell peppers samples) were collected from these gardens, located in the Copșa Mică contaminated area. The results reveal that the accumulation of metals in edible parts of belly pepper had the following hierarchical pattern: Zn ˃ Cu ˃ Cd ˃ Pb. Zinc (Zn) was the metal with the highest content identified in the edible part of pepper samples, ranging between 1.4 mg / kg f.w. and 7.0 mg / kg f.w.., while for cadmium (Cd) the content values ranged between 0.005 mg / kg - 0.162 mg / kg. The metals contents in bell peppers were positively correlated to total contents of metals in soil. The highest values of correlation coefficients were obtained for the regression curves established for the estimation of Cu, Cd and Zn accumulation in bell pepper (r = 0.443 for Cu, r = 0.399 for Cd, and r = 0.376 for Zn). In the case of lead the linear correlation coefficient is relatively low (r = 0.299). The results of this study are important to estimate the metals accumulation in vegetables from individual gardens, while also improving the safety of foodstuff produced in contaminated areas.

Restoration and integration of the Huang Family Garden within the contemporary urban fabric of Shanghai

&lt;abstract&gt; &lt;p&gt;In the backdrop of Shanghai's century-long urbanization and modernization, traditional private gardens have undergone a profound transformation influenced by Western lifestyles, concepts, and garden characteristics. This transformation, marked by an East-meets-West fusion, deviates from the conventions of traditional gardens. In this study, we delved into the historical evolution of these private gardens into urban parks against the canvas of evolving urban life and point out that the construction of the city-park interaction mechanism hinges on how to consolidate transformation motives and empower urban space. Focusing on the case study of the Huang Family Garden owned by the Qing Gang tycoon Gold Wing and employing a spatial culture research perspective, we illuminated how the metamorphosis of a private garden into an urban park catalyzed the development of an urban area and scrutinized the spatial transformation of the Huang Family Garden amid Shanghai's urban modernization. Furthermore, our results revealed the inherent public nature of the Huang Family Garden's evolving garden space, along with the continuous manifestation and strengthening of this characteristic through successive urban renovations. The results emphasized the role of gardens in urban resilience and sustainability, highlighting the contribution of garden spaces as public domains. The features exhibited during the transformation of private gardens into urban parks create conditions for enhancing urban resilience, while providing insights into the significance of understanding garden traits in the evolution of cities.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;/abstract&gt;

'Women's Dependency Rate on the Kerinci Seblat National Park Area in Fulfilling Their Basic Needs

Kerinci Seblat National Park experienced an encroachment rate during 1990-2014 of 2,737 ha/year or 52.6% of the highest encroachment area in the Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatera. Dependence on forests is done to meet basic needs such as food and animal feed. A study was required to determine the level of women's dependence on Kerinci Seblat National Park through the fulfillment of basic needs. The data collection methods used were a literature study, field observation, and an in-depth interview. Ranking the level of dependence of women in the Kerinci Seblat National Park conservation area through the fulfillment of basic needs based on the Indonesian High Conservation Value Toolkit Revision Consortium (2008). The existing land in Pal VIII Village is mainly agricultural land, namely coffee plantations. The research results through in-depth interviews showed that women in Pal VIII Village fulfill their needs for food, energy sources, and medicines, many of which are obtained from outside the area. Cultivation was carried out on their private land and utilized in their yard. Women's use of forest resources in the area was low because women met their basic needs from outside the Kerinci Seblat area. The characteristics of fulfilling women's basic needs were mostly met in several ways, namely cultivation, buying, and taking from private gardens. Thus, the level of dependence of Pal VIII Village women to fulfill their basic needs in the Kerinci Seblat National Park area was low.

First Record of a New Species of Green Lacewings Chrysopa niki n. sp. in Syria

Kawas, H. and A. Basheer. 2024. First Record of a New Species of Green Lacewings Chrysopa niki n. sp. in Syria. Arab Journal of Plant Protection, 42(2): 241-244. https://doi.org/10.22268/AJPP-001230 A field survey was conducted in several public and private gardens in Rif Damascus governorate during 2022. Adults of green lacewings (Chrysopidae) were collected as important elements in biological control programs, from pomegranate, Punica granatum L. (Family: Lythraceae), common jasmine, Jasminum officinale L. (Family: Oleaceae) and Viburnum tinus L. (Family: Adoxaceae). Collected insects were examined microscopically and compared with the global classification keys and confirmed the presence of the species Chrysopa niki n. sp. (Neuroptera: Chrysopoidea) for the first time in Syria. A few biological data were studied for adults collected in July 2022 from the same plant hosts mentioned above, placed in containers in breeding cages and fed on sugar solution under laboratory conditions at a temperature of 22- 24˚C and a relative humidity of 60±10%. Insects were medium in size, the body elongated, gray in color, the body length ranged between 10 and 14 mm, wingspan ranged between 20 and 28 mm, the antennae were long and thin (threadlike). Wings were translucent, shiny, emerald bluish, multi-veined. The female laid eggs alone on the lower surface and the edges of the leaves. The eggs were elongated, cylindrical, light green in color that turns to bluish green then to gray before hatching, with a short stalk around 9 mm long. Some newly emerged larvae fed on unhatched eggs. The hatching period ranged from 3 to 5 days. Adults age ranged between 21 and 42 days, the number of eggs laid/female was 32-112 eggs, and the hatching rate ranged between 40 and 80%. Keywords: Chrysopidae, Chrysopa niki n. sp., biological data, Syria

Extraction of β-carotene from peppers by means of certain organic solvents

The aim of this paper is to present a study of certain characteristics of sweet peppers (genus Capsicum and species Annuum), grown in a private garden located in the North-Eastern region of the country (Razgrad District). 12 types of sown pepper seeds are considered. 11 types of them have annually been collected from the best quality fruits and selected by an amateur gardener. Only one group of pepper seeds (number 7) has been purchased commercially. Before conducting the experiment, the collected peppers have been stored in a refrigerator (5 °C) within a week. The following characteristics of the peppers were studied: moisture content, dry matter and ash content. Static extraction of β-carotene from the peppers was carried out in four organic solvents, used as extractants (isopropanol, isobutanol, 1,1-dichloromethane, 1,2-dichloroethane). The different organic solvents exhibited different extraction ability. The largest amount of β-carotene was extracted when polar organic solvents were used as extractants and first in terms of extraction ability was isopropanol, followed by isobutanol. The best organic solvent for extracting β-carotene from peppers proved to be isopropanol. The highest amount of β-carotene extracted by using isopropanol, was contained in sample № 7 (11.86±0.01 mg/100g of dry matter).

Dynamic of carbon pools in the postagrogenic ecosystems of the southern taiga

The aim of the study was to assess the nature of changes in the main carbon pools of ecosystems during post-agrogenic vegetation restoration for different agricultural lands. Location and time of the study. The research was carried out in the Kostroma region. The objects are chronosequences, representing overgrown arable land, hayfield, hayfield-pasture and a well-fertilized private garden. Methods. The biomass of forest stand was calculated allometrically; the biomass of living ground plant cover was calculated using the method of cuttings (aboveground) and monoliths (underground). Soil organic carbon content was determined by dichromate digestion, and soil microbial biomass was assessed by substrate-induced respiration. Results. During succession in arable lands and hayfields, an increase in ecosystem carbon reserves was revealed due to the growth of woody phytomass, the share of carbon reserves growing from 0–10 to 65–78% over 40–50 years. When fertilized vegetable gardens become overgrown within 35 years, there was no regeneration of the tree stand. The upper horizons of arable soils contained 0,83–1,05% organic carbon, whreas the soil of the hay and the hay-pasture meadows contained 2,25% and 3,97%, respectively, and the soil of a vegetable garden contained 4,89%. When arable land is overgrown, carbon reserves in the old arable layer increased from 2,0–2,6 to 3,0–5,0 kg C/m2; when the hay meadow is overgrown, soil organic carbon stock decreased from 5,2 to 4,8 kg C/m2; in the hayfield-pasture, it decreased by 3,8 times; in the vegetable gardens, the carbon stock (10 kg C/m2) remained virtually unchanged for 35 years. Conclusions. When reforesting arable lands, as well as hayfields in the absence of livestock grazing, ecosystem carbon reserves increased 4–7 times with a decrease in the soil carbon share. The direction and nature of the carbon pools dynamics is determined by the soil humus state at the beginning of succession and, as a consequence, the type of use.

Exploring the development of private gardens in Jiangnan at different periods of maturity

Exploring the development of private gardens in Jiangnan at different periods of maturity

How do urban parks, neighborhood open spaces, and private gardens relate to individuals’ subjective well-being: Results of a structural equation model

As urban areas become more densely populated worldwide, the allocation of limited urban green infrastructure to promote well-being among users is becoming increasingly challenging. This study aims to understand the relationships of three types of urban green infrastructure (urban parks, neighborhood green open spaces and private gardens) with subjective well-being (SWB). We construct a structural equation model to examine these relationships in an integrated fashion. We consider both direct and indirect effects of green spaces on SWB. Data were collected through an online questionnaire involving a sample of 322 individuals in the Netherlands. Results indicate that the direct relationship between neighborhood green satisfaction and SWB is positive and stronger than the relationship between satisfaction with urban parks and SWB. Private garden size has an indirect positive effect on SWB mediated by neighborhood green satisfaction. Interestingly, an individual with higher satisfaction with green tends to have higher SWB independently of the frequency of using the green space. Overall, our method and results bring new insights to optimize urban green space planning to enhance users’ SWB.

Lepidopteran Pests of Apple Trees on the Territory of the City of Vanadzor

Key Words: Lori region, pomaceae, egg, caterpillar, pupa, imago Lepidopteran pests of apple trees in the Lori region have been documented in specialised literature; however, research on these pests in Vanadzor has not been done, despite the fact that many dangerous insects, including lepidoptera, flooded into private gardens in the city of Vanadzor after extensive clearing of orchards nearby. In this area, private farms suffer substantial damage from caterpillars. Additionally, some pests' caterpillars can induce allergic reactions, some of which can be very dangerous, when they come into contact with people's skin, particularly that of youngsters. The investigation of this matter is the focus of this work. As a result of our research, we identified 14 species of leafrollers of apple trees, which belong to the orders Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, Hemiptera and Homoptera. The greatest damage is caused by Apple ermine (Hypomoneuta malinellus Z.), Gypsy (spongy) moth (Lymantria dispar L.), Lackey moth (Malacosoma neustria L.), Brown-tail moth (Euproctis chrysorrhoea L.), Apple blossom weevil (Anthonomus pomorum L.), Tortrix moths especially Rose tortrix moth (Archips rosana L.), and Large fruit-tree tortrix (Archips podana L.). Entomophages have also been obtained, which belong to the families of Braconidae and the Ichneumonidae.

First report of powdery mildew caused by Erysiphe corylacearum on hazelnut in Bulgaria.

In June 2020, during an observation of fruit-bearing hazelnut trees (Corylus avelana L., cv. Tonda Gentile), grown in a small private home garden in the region of Kavarna (North-Eastern Black Sea coast of Bulgaria), symptoms of powdery mildew were observed on each of the 15 trees. Compared to the widely spread in Bulgaria powdery mildew caused by Phyllactinia guttata and known with its powdery patches and differing chasmothecia exclusively formed on the abaxial leaf surface, the newly observed disease was characterized by the presence of concomitant pathogen's structures on both the abaxial and adaxial surfaces of the leaves, varying from single pustules to 90% severity on certain leaves, as well as on the husks which were 100% affected. Among the white mycelium, cylindrical conidiophores and singly produced conidia (22-34 x 16-22 µm; n = 50) were found. Scattered or in groups, black spherical chasmothecia (diameter of 85-115 µm; n = 30), possessing 8 to 12 appendages with dichotomous branched apices, were also observed in the autumn. Chasmothecia contained 3 to 5 subglobose asci (45-60 x 34-62 µm; n = 30), each ascus containing 8 hyaline and ellipsoid ascospores (15-22 x 9-16 µm; n = 50). From one field powdery mildew sample DNA was extracted using the Nucleospin Plant II kit (Macherey-Nagel, Germany) and the rDNA ITS region was amplified using primers PMITS1 and PMITS2 (Cunnington, J.H. et al., 2003). The amplicon was sequenced (Macrogen Europe, The Netherlands) and used in a BLAST analysis. This resulted in 100% homology with the ITS sequence of Erysiphe corylacearum. The obtained sequence was different from the ones of Erysiphe pseudocorylacearum (99.20% homology) and Erysiphe coryli-americanae (96.52% homology). The targeted sequence was submitted to GenBank (accession number OQ860748). Based on the symptoms, morphological characteristics and molecular identification, the pathogen was identified as Erysiphe corylacearum. Pathogenicity of the fungus was confirmed under lab conditions (natural day/light regime, 23-25°C) by shaking down conidia from naturally infected leaves on both sides of healthy leaves (2-years plantlets, cv. Tonda Gentile, 3 replicates) and incubation in a moist chamber (plastic bags) for the first 24 hours. First small fluffy white pustules appeared 6-7 days after inoculation, subsequently, the disease was progressing and the pathogen's conidiophores and conidia were morphologically identical to that first observed under natural infections in the private garden. The non-inoculated control plantlets (grown under the same conditions in a separate room) remained symptomless during the entire three weeks testing period. To our knowledge, this is the first report of Erysiphe corylacearum on hazelnut in Bulgaria. In October 2021, the same disease was also found in a hazelnut orchard (1.2 ha) located in the region of Pazardzhik (Central Southern part of the country). Globally, this report indicates the disease's expansion in the Black Sea region since its first observation in Turkey in 2013 (Sezer, A., et al. 2017; Heluta, V.P., et al. 2019; Meparishvili, G., et al. 2019; Rosati, M., et al. 2021) and elsewhere in Europe as well (Beenken, L., et al. 2020; Mezzalama, M., et al. 2021; Voglmayr, H., et al. 2021).

The historic Lake Biwa Canal as a permanent catalyst for the development of Kyoto’s landscape architecture

The historic Lake Biwa Canal, an artificial waterway that supplies water from Lake Biwa to Kyoto, was built to revitalise Kyoto after the capital was moved to Tokyo in 1868. Apart from its main function, the canal plays a significant role in organising the cultural landscape of the surrounding areas. This study raised topical issues of sustainable development, preservation, and revitalisation of historic engineering structures. The artificial waterway was considered in terms of its pulling effects on the surrounding environment, both urban and landscape. The purpose of this study was to find the characteristics of the landscape-organising role of the Biwa Canal and its transformation over time, specifically with adaptation to the relevant problems of modern time. The study was conducted mainly using in situ field research methods. As a result, the key role of the canal as a constant catalyst for the development of Kyoto’s landscape architecture was outlined, which has changed substantially over time, but has not weakened and has always been innovative, organically combining modern industrial achievements with local traditions. In the first period of its existence (until 1951), the focus of landscape organising activities in the areas adjacent to the canal was on the creation of private and temple gardens, but from the second period of its existence (1951-early 1990s), the focus of landscape activities around the canal shifted to public recreational and park aspects. During the third period (since the early 1990s), when the canal was recognised as a National Historic Site, trends in the development of industrial and landscape tourism were also observed. The experience of preserving, revitalising, promoting, and adapting the landscape role of the Biwa Canal to the new needs of the present can be used as an example of the direction of similar activities for historic waterways in the world

Prediction of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) in homegrown eggs: Insights into abiotic and biotic factors affecting bioavailability and derivation of potential remediation measures

Homegrown eggs from free-ranging laying hens often contain elevated concentrations of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs). However, it is unclear which factors contribute to these relatively large exposure risk scenarios. Moreover, existing bioavailability and modeling concepts of conventional organic pollutants cannot be generalized to PFAAs due to their different physicochemical soil interactions. Therefore, there is an urgent need for empirical models, based on real-world data, to provide insights into how (a)biotic factors affect the bioavailability to eggs. To this end, 17 targeted analytes were analyzed in abiotic (i.e. rainwater, soil; both N = 101) matrices and homegrown eggs (N = 101), which were sampled in 101 private gardens across Flanders (Belgium) in 2019, 2021 and 2022. Various soil characteristics were measured to evaluate their role in affecting PFAA bioavailability to the eggs. Finally, PFAAs were measured in potential feed sources (i.e. homegrown vegetable and earthworm pools; respectively N = 49 and N = 34) of the laying hens to evaluate their contribution to the egg burden. Modeling suggested that soil was a major exposure source to laying hens, accounting for 16–55% of the total variation in egg concentrations for dominant PFAAs. Moreover, concentrations in vegetables and earthworms for PFBA and PFOS, respectively, were significantly positively related with corresponding egg concentrations. Predictive models based on soil concentrations, total organic carbon (TOC), pH, clay content and exchangeable cations were successfully developed for major PFAAs, providing possibilities for time- and cost-effective risk assessment of PFAAs in homegrown eggs. Among other soil characteristics, TOC and clay content were related with lower and higher egg concentrations for most PFAAs, respectively. This suggests that bioavailability of PFAAs to the eggs is driven by complex physicochemical interactions of PFAAs with TOC and clay. Finally, remediation measures were formulated that are readily applicable to lower PFAA exposure via homegrown eggs.

The mountain-viewing trend in private gardens of the Song dynasty

This study analyses Song dynasty garden documents and paintings and identifies three methods to create mountain-viewing experiences in private gardens. The landscaping techniques, aesthetic sensibilities, and cultural implications of each method are discussed, and the evolution of the mountain-viewing tradition is examined. Due to changes in natural conditions and the influence of royalty, mountains and stones as garden design elements held greater significance under the Southern Song dynasty than the Northern Song dynasty, with marked changes in mountain-building techniques, appreciation of stones, aesthetic preferences, and the professional esteem of designing gardens. Mountain-viewing pavilions became more prevalent during the Southern Song dynasty because the Song people deeply revered scholar Tao Yuanming. This paper contributes to Chinese landscaping history literature by showing how and why the mountain-viewing trend grew and how the Song dynasty influenced garden landscaping in China.

The relative effects of access to public greenspace and private gardens on mental health

Although the beneficial effects of urban greenspace on mental health are widely accepted, the comparative effects of public greenspace and private (domestic) gardens on mental health are poorly understood. Here, an assessment is provided of the effect of local public greenspace on a person’s mental health for those with and without a private garden in Britain. Individual level data on private garden ownership and mental health status are obtained from a nationally representative survey (the British Household Panel Survey). A combination of statistical matching and regression models are used to account for individual and area-level confounders and to test for interactions. Individuals with (n = 4,454) and without (n = 338) private gardens are analysed separately and their predicted probability of poor mental health in response to public greenspace presence is compared. Results show that the predicted positive effect of having a private garden varies depending on gender and age. Specifically, having a private garden substantially reduces the maximum predicted probability of poor mental health for men regardless of their access to local public greenspace. Whereas, for women, the presence of local public greenspace results in comparable mental health for those with and without a garden. Women without access to local public greenspace, having a private garden reduces the predicted probability of poor mental health later in life. Given the results, it is recommended that the provision of private gardens is considered within greenspace guidance and policy, which is currently dominated by the provision of, or access to, public greenspaces.