United Nation Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the European Green Deal and the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) are legislative proposals counting on rural and agricultural landscapes to assist climate change mitigation, ecosystem services and preservation of heritage. Agricultural landscapes take up more than 10% of the earth’s land surface (1.5 billion ha), presenting a continuous field of interaction between man and nature, shaping the earth’s epidermis since antiquity. The Mediterranean basin is one of the most evident places on earth exhibiting this relationship, between the anthropogenic and the natural, hosting lands of enormous ecological, economic and cultural value. With Greece’s economy being based largely on agriculture in the past, traditional Greek agricultural landscapes present great socio-cultural importance; those landscapes, managed appropriately, could dynamically help combat climate issues, continue to provide services of high value and also present local character, tradition and culture. Yet, the acknowledgement of agricultural heritage, the creation of mixed productive socio-ecological profiles and the realization of governance schemes towards agricultural connections, such as linking traditional agricultural practices to the wider anthropogenic, ecological and recreational services, are in their infancy for many countries worldwide, including Greece. Landscape heritage is considered as important as archaeological and architectural heritage. In this paper, three examples of high importance Agricultural Heritage Landscapes (AHLs) are presented: the masticulture in Chios island; the black (Corinthian) raisin vineyards in Aigialeia (Egialia), Peloponnese; and the olive groves of Thassos island. Their importance is analyzed and strategic steps towards their acknowledgement, conservation and appropriate management are presented.

The physical–hydraulic properties of eight substrate mixtures based on sphagnum peat and coir were determined and their effect on the growth of Begonia xelatior was studied. The particle size distribution, water retention curve, saturated hydraulic conductivity, and pore size distribution of the substrates were determined. All substrates exhibited high total porosity, satisfactory water retention capacity, and high saturated hydraulic conductivity. Increasing the percentage of perlite in the mixtures contributed to the reduction of water retention capacity and the increase of large pores. Unsaturated hydraulic conductivity estimated by the Mualem–van Genuchten model showed a sharp decrease within a range of water pressure heads (0 to −50 cm) observed between two successive irrigations. To assess aeration and water retention capacity, total porosity; airspace; and easily, and nonavailable water, as well as the bulk density of the substrates, were determined and concomitantly compared with the “ideal substrates” determined by De Boodt and Verdonck. The comparative results showed that substrate porosity alone is not efficient to create ideal plant growth conditions, but dynamic parameters are also needed. Plants grown in a substrate classified as “nonideal” showed significantly greater growth than the plants grown in most of the other substrates studied.

Long term degradation of water quality from natural resources has led to the use of alternative water resources for irrigation that are saline. Saline water irrigation in floriculture for the production of nursery crops requires an understanding of plant response. The pot growth of four lavender species (Lavandula angustifolia, Lavandula dentata var. dentata, Lavandula dentata var. candicans and Lavandula stoechas) irrigated with water containing different concentrations of NaCl (0, 25, 50, 100 and 200 mM) was investigated under greenhouse conditions. Overall results of different plant growth variables were consistent, showing a significant decrease at 100 and 200 mM NaCl. All lavender species showed signs of salinity stress that included chlorosis, followed by leaf and stem necrosis at NaCl concentrations greater than 50 mM. L. dentata var. dentata showed the greatest plant growth followed in descending order by L. dentata var. candicans, L. stoechas and L. angustifolia. Despite greater growth of L. dentata var. dentata, the appearance of L. dentata var. candicans was “healthier”. In areas with saline irrigation water, L. dentata var. dentata and L. dentata var. candicans are proposed for the production of lavender nursery crops.

Worldwide, several large-scale historical gardens have been adapted to social needs and became public parks. Historical parks, designed in a different era and often subjected to pressures for development, raise concerns in meeting contemporary visitor needs, rendering them vulnerable to private interests. The main purpose of this paper was to determine whether a historical park designed in a different era can meet today’s visitor needs. The National Garden (NG) in Athens, Greece, a well-protected historical park, was selected as a case study. A questionnaire survey addressed to the visitors of the NG was undertaken on the basis of the main components of park design, factors affecting visitation, and visitor perceptions of involvement in park management. A descriptive and regression analysis was applied. Even though the NG was not originally designed as a public park but as a garden, overall results showed it satisfies its visitor’s needs. The planting and associated tranquility are the most liked characteristics of the NG that are inextricably linked with its original design as a private garden. The main qualitative traits of plants that people like were found in the NG plant species. Suggested improvements to fulfill further contemporary visitor’s needs have to be considered carefully and must comply with the statutory measures that protect the NG and associated wildlife habitat. As in many urban parks, concerns for safety and cleanliness and willingness to volunteer in park maintenance were also expressed by visitors of the NG. This study illustrates that historical gardens designed many years ago and transformed into public parks can protect and conserve the historical and cultural heritage and concomitantly meet today’s visitor needs. Further research is suggested to study other historical parks.

In green roofs, the use of plant species that withstand dry arid environmental conditions and have reduced water requirements is recommended. The current study presents the effect of irrigation amount on the growth of four different species of lavender; Lavandula angustifolia, Lavandula dentata var. candicans, Lavandula dentata var. dentata, and Lavandula stoechas established on an extensive green roof system and used in urban agriculture. Two irrigation treatments (high and low) determined by the substrate hydraulic properties were applied. Plant growth studied at regular intervals included measurements of plant height, shoot canopy diameter, plant growth index, shoot dry weight and stomatal conductance. The results were consistent and showed that low irrigation reduced plant growth. With the exception of L. stoechas, the appearance of plants watered with the low irrigation treatment was satisfactory, and their use under low water amount irrigation is supported. Interspecies differences among lavender species were present in both irrigation treatments. Overall, L. dentata var. candicans showed the greatest growth, followed in descending order by L. dentata var. dentata and L. angustifolia. In parallel, for stomatal conductance, L. dentata var. candicans showed the lowest value, similar to L. dentata var. dentata, and L. angustifolia the largest. Differences in plant characteristics and size among the latter three species can be considered in the design of extensive green roof systems. The use of substrate hydraulic properties was shown to be important for irrigation management on extensive green roof systems.