Making friends in Zurich's urban forests and parks: The role of public green space for social inclusion of youths from different cultures

Effects of Urban Green Space on Environmental Health, Equity and Resilience

“…Green space can play an important role in fostering social interactions and promote a sense of community that is essential for social cohesion (Kim and Kaplan 2004) as well as for human health (Lengen and Kistemann 2012). Public urban green space has been shown to facilitate social networking and promote social inclusion in children and adolescents (Seeland et al 2009;Ward Thompson et al 2016). The quantity and the quality of greenery have been linked with improved social cohesion at the neighbourhood scale (de Vries et al 2013) while shortage of green space has been associated with perception of loneliness and lack of social support (Maas et al 2009a).…”

The Development of an Enhanced Extension Agent Training to Create Butterfly Gardens in Louisiana

“…Green settings have also been identified as places accessible to everyone in the community without any formal, financial or symbolic restrictions, where social transactions such as respecting unfamiliar gender roles or developing friendships which cross ethnic and cultural boundaries can take place in a neutral, restorative and aesthetically pleasing environment Seeland et al 2009). Having acknowledged these facts, it is important to reiterate that achieving the health and well-being benefits outlined above is largely determined by the quality, quantity and accessibility of these green spaces (O'Brien 2005b;O'Brien 2005a;Tyrväinen et al 2005).…”

“…It is commonly believed that children have a predilection for natural environments and that environments preferred by children are primarily comprised of natural elements (Seeland et al 2009;Wells and Evans 2003). Research by Moore (1986;cited in Wells and Evans 2003) showed that when children from urban areas aged nine to 12 years were requested to make a map or drawing of their favourite places, approximately 96 per cent of the illustrations were of outdoor places, while only four drawings reflected interior spaces.…”

“…These "green spaces" are known to be attractive to the city's young people (Seeland et al 2009). In Zurich there are dedicated schools in forests and these have a history of success in outdoor environmental education.…”

Looking for the role of nature experiences in planning and decision making: a perspective from the Helsinki Metropolitan Area

“…Immigrants' experiences of nature in Finnish cities, for instance, can be very different from those of native Finns (e.g., Virtanen, 2007). Urban nature areas can be places for rest, recreation, camaraderie, social interaction, or discomfort and fear, depending on the situation and the particular person (e.g., Koskela, 2003;Van den Berg & Ter Heijne, 2005;Seeland et al 2009;Skår, 2010). The more diverse nature a city has, the better it can serve residents with various environmental preferences.…”