Social Benefits

Aesthetics:

• Urban greening has long been promoted as an easy and effective strategy for beautifying the built environment and increasing investment opportunity.

Health & Horticultural Therapy:

• Psychological studies have shown that the restorative effect of a natural view holds the viewers' attention, diverts their awareness away from themselves and from worrisome thoughts thereby improving health.
• People living in high-density developments are known to be less susceptible to illness if they have a balcony or terrace garden. This is partly due to the additional oxygen, air filtration and humidity control supplied by plants but also from the therapeutic benefits that result from caring for plants. The variety of sounds, smells, colours and movement provided by plants, although not quantifiable, can add significantly to human health and well being.
• Patients in the same hospital, recovering the from the same operation, were studied as to the restorative effects of views onto a landscaped courtyard versus a brick wall. The patients with the green view had shorter post-operative stays, took fewer moderate and stronger painkillers and had fewer negative evaluation comments from the nurses.

Improved Safety:

• A garden on the roof is often considered safer than a garden at grade. For example, because access to the roof is often restricted to building tenants or employees, there is less likelihood of assault or vandalism.

Recreation:

• Green roofs can help to address the lack of green space in many urban areas. Studies show that leisure activities in natural settings such as gardens and parks, are important for helping people cope with stress and in meeting other non-stress-related needs.

Community Building:

• The creation of shared gardens, like the rooftop garden on top of the Mary Lambert-Swale housing project in Toronto, allows residents to feel ownership of their building and meet neighbours in a relaxed setting.