Abstract
Domestic gardens are known for their positive impact on mental health and wellbeing, yet their potential co-benefits in enhancing local air quality and regulating temperature remain comparatively underexplored. The aim of this research is to improve understanding of how different domestic garden designs are linked to local air quality and temperature regulation in two polluted neighbourhoods in London. This study presents empirical evidence from a year-long field investigation comparing the air pollution and temperature data of three types of garden designs: vegetated, lawn, and paved gardens, across four seasons in high-traffic urban settings. Results reveal that vegetated gardens, particularly those featuring dense hedges, can reduce PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations in certain seasons (summer and winter) although their performance varies with site conditions and time of year. Lawn gardens showed more stable and consistently low air pollutant concentrations, while paved gardens performed the poorest in both air quality and thermal comfort. Temperature analysis further confirmed that vegetation contributes to cooling, especially in summer, with vegetated gardens up to 6°C cooler than paved gardens. These findings suggest that strategic garden design can be used in micro-scale environments to mitigate air pollution and urban heat, particularly in environmentally vulnerable communities. The study contributes to emerging conversations on equitable urban planning and emphasises the need for more evidence-based garden studies to contribute to sustainable urban policies.