Urban flower meadows as a climate change adaptation measure: a pilot study from Olomouc, Czechia

Abstract

With ongoing urbanisation, urban green spaces are among the fastest-expanding landscape forms worldwide. While mown lawns remain traditionally the most widespread type of green space in cities, urban flower meadows are emerging as a sustainable alternative that provides enhanced ecological, health, psychological, and climatic benefits. Despite growing interest in these biodiverse urban landscapes, their comparison to conventional lawns in terms of microclimatic and bioclimatic effects remains understudied. This pilot case study from Olomouc (Czechia) compares the microclimatic conditions of a meadow and a lawn during three summer campaigns. Microclimatic conditions differed between the meadow and the lawn and varied with vegetation phases, particularly in terms of radiative conditions (MRT – Mean radiant temperature) and thermal comfort (UTCI – Universal Thermal Climate Index), while air temperature differences were generally small. Soil temperature remained consistently lower and soil moisture was higher beneath the meadow throughout the summer, reflecting reduced evaporative losses and more effective rainwater retention. These findings indicate that flower meadows may contribute to both thermal moderation and improved water retention in urban environments. Overall, our findings support the potential of urban flower meadows as a nature-based climate adaptation measure, though long-term monitoring across diverse urban settings is needed to fully assess their broader applicability.