Last updated: October 2021
The reduced green space in cities and the declining level of unstructured physical activity affect especially children as major developments in the immune system occur during the first years of life. Interacting with nature also increases perceived well-being and promotes environmental responsibility. The KOTA-project was funded by Helsinki Metropolitan Region Urban Research Program and the University of Helsinki conducted the study. KOTA examined how greening of kindergarten yards affects children’s health and well-being in the urban environment. Six kindergarten yards were transformed and a control group of non-modified kindergartens was used. The project extended beyond Helsinki, with the transformed sites being not only in Espoo (part of the Helsinki Capital Region). (ref. 1).
A child bringing grass to a planter to be composted during autumn/winter
Photographer: Riikka Puhakka (2017), retrieved 08/10/2018
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Grey infrastructure featuring greens
- Green playgrounds and school grounds
- Community gardens and allotments
- Community gardens
Key challenges
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Green space creation and/or management
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Enabling opportunities for physical activity
- Improving mental health
- Improving physical health
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
- Sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12)
- Sustainable consumption
- Sustainable production
Focus
Creation of new green areas
Project objectives
1. To research how the greening of kindergarten yards affect children's health and well-being in an urban environment (ref. 1)
2. The results were used to design health-enhancing yards of kindergartens, schools, retirement homes and other public buildings (ref. 1).
3. To examine how increasing contact with vegetation and soil altered the children’s microbiota (ref. 1)
4. To investigate that interacting with nature also increases perceived well-being and promotes environmental responsibility (ref. 1)
5. To involve children in green space management (such as watering plants and flowers) (ref. 6)
Implementation activities
1. Transformed 6 kindergarten yards in Lahti, Tampere and Espoo by adding greenery: use of forest floor vegetation, sod, peat blocks and planters for vegetable and flower growing, 2. The personnel introduced green materials into children's various activities as much as possible (Ref 10).
Main beneficiaries
- Researchers/University
- Citizens or community groups
- Other
Governance
Management set-up
- Co-governance with government and non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Researchers/university
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Dissemination of information and education
- Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
The intervention is funded by and part of the Helsinki Metropolitan Region Urban Research Programme and undertaken by the University of Helsinki. This is a network based on partnership between various regional universities and city councils and ministries (Ref 3).
The Helsinki Metropolitan Region Urban Research Programme that this intervention is a part of is a horizontal cooperation network between the cities, universities and state ministries (Ref 3).
The intervention is funded by the The Helsinki Metropolitan Region Urban Research Programme that is partly made available by the City of Helsinki (Ref 1, 3).
a steering group that consists of representatives of the cities, ministries and universities (Ref 3) is consulted regarding the project.
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
No
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
(The knowledge created by the Helsinki Metropolitan Region Urban Research Programme that this intervention is part of is meant to be used to inform regional decision-making. The topics that will be researched are reviewed and decided upon by a steering group that consists of representatives of the cities, ministries and universities (Ref 3). These actors are steered by local plans, regulations and strategies. As such, the present intervention is an indirect response to these.)
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
- Public regional budget
- Public local authority budget
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Environmental quality
- Improved air quality
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
Economic impacts
- Unknown
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Improved access to urban green space
- Increased access to healthy/affordable food
- Health and wellbeing
- Improved physical health
- Improved mental health
- Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
- Education
- Increased support for education and scientific research
- Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
Type of reported impacts
Achieved impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Yes
Presence of indicators used in reporting
Yes
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
References
1: University of Helsinki. (2017). KOTA. Retrieved from Source link (Accessed 25 July 2020)
2: Sinkkonen, A. T., Tahvonen, O., Puhakka, R., & Roslund, M. I. (2019, Feb 1). Viherpihalta terveyttä ja hyvinvointia: Kohti tervettä aikuisuutta (KOTA) – päiväkodin viherpihan vaikutus lasten kokonaisvaltaiseen hyvinvointiin (Helsingin yliopisto ja Hämeen ammattikorkeakoulu). Kaupunkitutkimus ja metropolipolitiikka -tutkimus ja yhteistyöohjelma. Retrieved from Source link (Accessed 25 July 2020)
3: Helsingin Yliopisto. (n.d.). Helsinki Metropolitan Region Urban Research Program. Retrieved from Source link (Accessed 25 July 2020)
4: City of Helsinki Planning Department. (2013). Helsinki City Plan Vision 2050. Retrieved from Source link (Accessed 25 July 2020)
5: Puhakka, R., Roslund, M., Grönroos, M., & Sinkkonen, A. (2018). PÄIVÄKODIN VIHERPIHAN VAIKUTUS LASTEN HYVINVOINTIIN JA TERVEYTEEN. Retrieved from Source link (Accessed 25 July 2020)
6: Halava, J. (2020). Kivituhka vaihtui viherpihaan päiväkodissa Leppävaarassa. lansivayla. Retrieved from Source link (Accessed 25 July 2020)
2: Sinkkonen, A. T., Tahvonen, O., Puhakka, R., & Roslund, M. I. (2019, Feb 1). Viherpihalta terveyttä ja hyvinvointia: Kohti tervettä aikuisuutta (KOTA) – päiväkodin viherpihan vaikutus lasten kokonaisvaltaiseen hyvinvointiin (Helsingin yliopisto ja Hämeen ammattikorkeakoulu). Kaupunkitutkimus ja metropolipolitiikka -tutkimus ja yhteistyöohjelma. Retrieved from Source link (Accessed 25 July 2020)
3: Helsingin Yliopisto. (n.d.). Helsinki Metropolitan Region Urban Research Program. Retrieved from Source link (Accessed 25 July 2020)
4: City of Helsinki Planning Department. (2013). Helsinki City Plan Vision 2050. Retrieved from Source link (Accessed 25 July 2020)
5: Puhakka, R., Roslund, M., Grönroos, M., & Sinkkonen, A. (2018). PÄIVÄKODIN VIHERPIHAN VAIKUTUS LASTEN HYVINVOINTIIN JA TERVEYTEEN. Retrieved from Source link (Accessed 25 July 2020)
6: Halava, J. (2020). Kivituhka vaihtui viherpihaan päiväkodissa Leppävaarassa. lansivayla. Retrieved from Source link (Accessed 25 July 2020)