Changes in paved space, green infrastructure and tree canopy cover in front gardens: a case study of two contrasting housing estates in Liverpool, England

ABSTRACT The increase in paved areas in residential front gardens is of growing concern. Despite the importance of UK front gardens as green spaces, the topic of changes to front gardens has not been much studied. We case studied the front gardens of two housing estates in Liverpool, England with different social economic statuses, examining changes in terms of paved space, greenspace, and tree canopy cover over a six-year period between 2012–2018. Tree condition and the extent of tree work carried out were also recorded for analysis. There was a trend for increased paved space in the front gardens of the more affluent Aintree Village, with front garden greenspace decreasing by 3.9% in the six-year study period. The less affluent Netherton Park experienced a smaller decline in greenspace of 1.2% over the same period. The housing estates were also found to have contrasting tree canopy cover and tree management. In Aintree Village 71% of front garden trees received tree work and the mean tree canopy cover decreased from 4% to 2.4%. In contrast, Netherton Park saw only 8.3% of trees receiving tree work over the same period. In Aintree Village 41.7% of front garden trees present in 2012 were removed by 2018, with 12.9% of the removals associated with increased paved areas in front gardens. Understanding the socioeconomic pressures that influence changes in residential front gardens is important in addressing this damaging trend and can inform planning policy and the design of new residential areas.