Ornamental flower meadows vs tradicional lawns in mediterranean climate: general public preferences and perception

Abstract

In Portugal lawns are used everywhere, even in small places where they are just to be seen. This creates a problem because in a Mediterranean climate turf-grass has to be watered to stay green. But people’s preferences seem to influence the design of green spaces using lawns everywhere, not considering the fact that lawns are more expensive economically and ecologically than other alternatives as ornamental flower meadows Over the last years an effort has been made to use alternatives to turf-grass, environmentally more sustainable, as ornamental flower meadows, trying to apply their ecological and aesthetic qualities and to influence the general public. In this work we intend to test these ideas, trying to get people’s preferences and perception of this different herbaceous vegetation cover. To do this, three different groups of people: landscape architects, landscape managers, and general public - will be asked about their perception and preference concerning different types of herbaceous vegetation cover. The method used is photographs with different sceneries using landscapes with different types of herbaceous vegetation cover that will be shown to the groups. The answers will be separated by gender and age groups. The different variables studied are the colour (one colour or multi-colour), the flowers (presence or absence), the management techniques, and the biodiversity. In this study we attempt to explore current attitudes towards the use of both lawns and ornamental flower meadows in public urban green spaces. The importance of biodiversity and sustainability in people’s preference and perception will be discussed.