Studies show that we recover faster with a view of a green area. It’s also been proven that our stress levels decrease in natural areas.

I wrote this post in 2013, and the section on climate change at the end of the post is more relevant than ever.

I took the Harbor Bus out to Sydhavnstippen. From Teglholmen, it’s about a fifteen-minute walk to one of the city’s most needed breathing spaces.

Here, dedicated people fight to preserve this piece of nature, this recreational area that has emerged from construction waste and chemical residues. I understand them because, in this district, many people live per square meter.

I visited here on a public holiday in good weather, and the atmosphere was great. Out by the tipi, it was completely quiet. Silence is a rare phenomenon.

I could faintly hear the sounds of the city, but only because my attention was focused on the source of the noise.

It was the birds, the wind in the trees, the grass, and the rubble that sounded like soothing music.

On Teglholmen, a new district, apartment buildings stand side by side, only separated by canals. Canals where you can sail with a kayak and motorboat, it’s almost exotic. But where is nature?

What about trees, flowers, and bushes? I think of Urban Gardening, but it doesn’t exist.

On Teglholmen, there is a sad tree with a few meters in between. They stand as a reminiscence of the time when nature was part of people’s everyday lives. Here, people have to travel many kilometers to reach nature.

I meet a mother with her young child. We chat, and she tells me they are going to a playground. She finds the area exciting with the canals between the houses, and I agree with her. I ask if they miss some green nature. Fortunately, they have Vestamager, she says. Vestamager is many kilometers away!

Feeling stressed or just a bit low on energy? Then head to the nearest green area, it helps.

A willow tree is growing among the rubble at Sydhavnstippen.
Spring has arrived 😊 On Saturday the sheep will be released there.
Sheep are good at fighting off giant hogweed, and they are very cozy too.

I am writing this post to protect our recreational areas. I don’t think everything should be glass, steel, and concrete, mixed with the usual office buildings, shops, and a few very exclusive residences wrapped in a minimalist style without atmosphere.

I love the smell of tar and saltwater ❤️

Two comprehensive studies from Sweden and Holland independently conclude that the longer you spend in green surroundings, the fewer stress symptoms you exhibit. The newspaper Information wrote about this on June 8, 2004. It’s old knowledge.

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Climate change will lead to a more intense warming of the city, which during heatwaves can make the city or parts of it unpleasant to stay in. The phenomenon is called the heat island effect and is known from cities like London and Tokyo, where significantly higher temperatures have been measured in the city centers than in the outskirts during heatwaves.

The extent of the heat island effect in Copenhagen has not been mapped, but it is assumed to become an increasing problem as the climate gets warmer. There are several methods to counteract the heat island effect. In this context, the establishment of green and blue areas is of particular interest as they also have recreational values. * Copenhagen Climate Plan 2011

Significant afforestation was not considered in the Municipality of Copenhagen in 2011. Afforestation contributes to a CO2 uptake of approximately 18 tons CO2/ha/year, meaning that substantial afforestation is needed before it has an impact on the overall CO2 balance in the Municipality of Copenhagen. * CO2 Account for the Municipality of Copenhagen