GCARE brings DIY urban greening to Guildford Green Day - 14 June 2026

Through the GP4Streets project, the GCARE-led team hosted an interactive stand showing how simple, do-it-yourself urban greening ideas can help cool busy streets, improve air quality and make neighbourhoods more pleasant places to walk, cycle and spend time.

Visitors explored real-time air quality displays and hands-on activities demonstrating how pollution and heat can vary across the High Street and nearby streets. The team used these tools to start practical conversations about how planting, shading and street design can reduce exposure to heat and air pollution in everyday urban settings.

At the VIP reception, Professor Prashant Kumar, Founding Director of GCARE and Co-Director of the Institute for Sustainability, highlighted the importance of strong partnerships between researchers, local authorities and communities in developing greener and healthier streets.

The stand also welcomed the local Member of Parliament, who heard how GP4Streets is supporting community-led action on greener, cooler and more climate-resilient streets, in line with Guildford Borough Council’s ambitions on climate adaptation and air quality.

Researchers including Dr Hao Sun and Dr Akash Biswal spoke with visitors about their everyday journeys, including school runs, commutes, shopping trips and walking or cycling routes. Many residents were keen to discuss realistic greening measures, from more trees and planters to improved shading along pedestrian and cycling routes.

The team also showcased the RECLAIM Urban Greening “How-To” Toolkit, which provides evidence-based guidance for planning and delivering nature-based solutions in Guildford and other urban areas.

Participation in Guildford Green Day 2026 underlines GCARE’s commitment to translating research into practical local action. Through GP4Streets, the team will continue working with residents, schools, councils and partners to test and scale DIY greening approaches that support cooler, healthier and more climate-resilient streets.

GP4Streets, DIY Greening Prescription for Climate Adaptation in Urban Streets, is led by GCARE in partnership with the Universities of Bath, Sheffield, UWE Bristol and Imperial College London. The project is funded by UK Research and Innovation, including NERC, AHRC, EPSRC, ESRC and MRC, and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs under the Maximising UK Adaptation to Climate Change initiative.

The work connects with GCARE’s wider research portfolio, including GREENIN, SMART-COAT and RECLAIM, all focused on creating healthier, more sustainable and climate-resilient places to live and work.