Robinia pseudoacacia L. is an interesting example of how one plant species can be considered invasive or useful depending on its environment. In the past this tree species was planted for decorative purposes and for wood in Poland. For many years it was recommended in poor and degraded habitats because it facilitated late-successional plant species. The aim of this study was to verify if black locust can still be regarded as a resistant tree species in urban greenery. The health condition of old tree specimens growing along streets and in parks was compared. The occurrence of pests and pathogens on R. pseudoacacia trees was assessed and the content of mineral elements in leaves was examined. The research results showed that the health of black locust trees growing in the urban environment in Polish cities, especially along streets (in comparison to park sites), deteriorated significantly due to the interaction of harmful biotic and abiotic factors. Increased level of toxic metals (Fe, Zn, Pb, Mn and Cd) in plant tissues and the accumulation of pests and pathogens negatively influenced the health of R. pseudoacacia.

Almost five thousand allotment gardens divided into one million plots are used by roughly 10% of Polish society. Several studies have emphasized their social importance and significance for enlargement of the area and the integrity of urban spatial greenery systems. However, the area of allotment gardens in Polish cities has been decreasing since the changes in the post-communist country in the 1990s. There is a lack of a simple method of classification and valuation of allotment gardens in relation to their significance in urban green space systems that could be used by officials and city planners. Hence, this study aims to examine the significance of allotment gardens in the spatial development of the green space system of Poznań and classify them with a simple and universal method of valuation which could be used in urban planning. The location of allotment gardens in the urban green space system in Poznań was examined with the classification method elaborated here. It was based on the valuation of several internal and external features of individual allotment gardens. The results showed that allotment gardens are important areas and spatial elements of the green space system in Poznań. Over 30% of allotment gardens are of high significance in the green space system of the city. Nevertheless, according to urban planning documentation, there are plans to reduce the area of allotments in Poznań. Even gardens indicated in the research to be of high significance to the integrity and enlargement area of the urban green space system are planned to be liquidated. Use of the developed classification could influence the decision-making process regarding the liquidation of allotment gardens and preserve the most valuable objects.

Heavily urbanised areas are not a favourable habitat for plant growth and development. On the other hand, urbanised areas can be a favourable habitat for harmful fauna. Tin our study, those trees growing along the roadside were more heavily infested by pests than trees growing in parks. Three orders of insects, mites and lugs were identified on the Norway maple. The dominant insect species was Periphyllus aceris. On small-leaved lime four insect orders (the dominant species was and Eucallipterus tiliae) and mites were found. An overall visual inspection confirmed that of maple and lime growing in city parks were in better condition than those growing by roads.

Green areas positively affect human health. It applies in particular to greenery in a direct neighbourhood of the housing. We analysed new housing estates in Poznan, Poland. Greenery quality was assessed according to developed factors, based on data about the area of the greenery in comparison with the area covered by hardscapes within the site; pre-existing greenery inventories; new greenery inventories; green area functions and accessibility. In the second stage of research, we compared data about greenery quality to information concerning economic value of the statistic flat in the estate. The average area of greenery in relation to the area of the plot was 40.16% for prestigious investments and 41.62% for less prestigious ones. The median value of WU (‘Socialisation rate’ indicator designed for this research) for prestigious investments was 0.035 and for less prestigious investments it was 0.226. The research showed that the price of flats does not affect the quality of residential greenery. Less prestigious (cheaper) flats have the same or even better access and quality of greenery in the estate. Developers do not take actual actions in the field of environmental compensation, which leads to lowering of the quality of greenery and public space.

Refuge habitats have a stabilising effect on the entomofauna in the agricultural landscape. The objective of this research was to follow the migrant activity of aphids in two types of refuge habitats: shrubs and roadsides of rural areas. Moericke traps method were used for testing the seasonal activity of aphids. The dynamics of species numbers were assessed, and the phenology of the dominating taxa was examined. From 2008 to 2010, more than 5,000 winged aphids from 94 species were caught in shrub habitats, and 83 species were caught in rural roadside habitats. The characteristics of aphid groups were defined on the basis of selected indicators. Annually, in both locations, flight activity was shown by a group of several taxa. The rank position of the species was varied in the particular sites and years of the research. Species participation differed when analysing aphid flights, so the seasons were divided into three separate periods: spring, summer, and autum

The perception of the landscape is related to the perception of space primarily through the sense of sight. Visual perception is complemented by impressions collected by other senses, hearing, smell and touch. The aim of the conducted research was to identify the landscapes of the city of Bydgoszcz and its vicinity perceived both positively and negatively by means of senses other than sight. A questionnaire method was used in the study. The respondents of the survey were mainly residents of the city and visitors familiar with the space of Bydgoszcz, including a group of students of a technical high school from the landscape architecture class and a group of deaf people. The survey was sent out in social media and on portals gathering people interested in the city’s issues. It was established that for the majority of respondents, the sense of smell and hearing play a decisive role in the perception of the landscape, apart from sight. The most attractive turned out to be recreational areas, associated with greenery and spaces excluded from car traffic in the city center, as well as places near water. Areas of the city loaded with intensive car traffic, neglected, dirty and crowded were considered unattractive in terms of perception by senses other than sight. There were no significant differences in perceiving the landscape through senses other than sight between different groups of survey respondents, except that for deaf people the sense of touch was basically irrelevant, and future landscape architects assessed the city landscape the most critically. Percepcja krajobrazu związana jest przede wszystkim ze zmysłem wzroku. Percepcję wzrokową uzupełniają wrażenia odbierane przez inne zmysły: słuchu, węchu i dotyku. Celem badań była identyfikacja krajobrazów miasta Bydgoszczy postrzeganych pozytywnie oraz negatywnie za pomocą zmysłów innych niż wzrok. W badaniu zastosowano metodę kwestionariuszową. Respondentami byli mieszkańcy miasta oraz osoby przyjezdne wśród nich grupa uczniów technikum z klasy architektury krajobrazu oraz grupa osób niesłyszących. Ustalono, że dla większości respondentów decydującą rolę w postrzeganiu krajobrazu, obok wzroku, odgrywa zmysł węchu i słuch. Najatrakcyjniejsze okazały się dla nich tereny związane z zielenią i wodą oraz wyłączone z ruchu w centrum miasta. Za nieatrakcyjne uznano obszary obciążone ruchem samochodowym, zaniedbane i zatłoczone.