Hosei University Rooftop Gardening Maintenance Project: August Garden vs. Beloved Garden at Hosei University filled with persistence" (Tuesday, August 23, 2022)

　On Tuesday, August 23, 2022, the fifth round of the "Hosei University Rooftop Gardening Maintenance Project" was successfully held under the theme of "August Garden versus Beloved Garden at Hosei University, a place full of persistence" as the hottest season for both plants and people who maintain the gardens. The event was successfully held while paying attention to the spread of new coronavirus infection and the prevention of heat stroke.

　Since many of the participants were participating in the project for the first time during the summer break, Naoko Enomoto of the Environment Center gave an opening presentation on "The Secret Story of the Birth of the Green Terrace" and "Highlights of the Garden.

　Then, with an awareness of the biotope network from the Imperial Palace, Kitanomaru Park, and Yasukuni Shrine to Sotobori Park, the participants planted "moss" (donated by Naoko Enomoto of the Environment Center) and vegetable bulbs and seeds in the "vegetable garden plot" in hopes of "climate change mitigation effects". In addition, flower seedlings that can be enjoyed through the fall, seedlings of "kumquats," "licorice" bulbs (donated by Naoko Enomoto of the Environment Center), "cosmos" and "nadeshiko" seeds (donated by Naoko Enomoto of the Environment Center), which were requested by the members, were sown.

　Rooftop greening" is expected to have a "heat-insulating effect" by greening the soil, a "suppression of indoor temperature rise" and an "energy-saving effect" by blocking solar radiation from plants, and a "mitigation of outdoor temperature rise" by "transpiration effect" of plants.
　At the end of the project (around 16:00), Naoko Enomoto of the Environment Center explained the expected effects of "rooftop greening" (difference between sensible heat and latent heat, transpiration of plants, heat insulation by greening, energy saving effects, etc.), and then demonstrated the "greening" in a vegetable garden plot in "the beloved garden of Hosei University" in the severe August heat. The temperatures inside (33.3°C) and outside (40.4°C) of the greening area with the green curtain (cucumber) and the wall surface (32.8°C) and the wall surface (47.6°C) of the non-greening area with the green curtain (cucumber) were measured with an infrared radiation thermometer, and the "Yaburan" planted to "mitigate climate change" was shown with a black bulb thermometer in the vegetable garden plot in the "beloved garden of Hosei University, which is full of care" in the severe August heat. Yaburan (27.1°C) and surrounding tile surfaces (33.1°C)," and "Snapdragon moss (25.8°C) and surrounding tile surfaces (29.8°C)," which were planted to "mitigate climate change," were measured to confirm the "effects of rooftop greening.

　Now, although the opportunities to visit the campus will be reduced due to the summer vacation period, we will pay full attention to the spread of new coronavirus infection and focus on the function that "greening" has in the "beloved garden at Hosei University, which is full of care and attention," and we hope that you will have a fulfilling and "comfortable" and "healthy" campus life, aiming at the prevention of global warming. I hope that you will be able to spend a fulfilling campus life in a "healthy" way and prevent global warming.

　In March 2022, the Hosei University Rooftop Gardening Maintenance Project, for which the Hosei University Environmental Center serves as the secretariat, won a prize in the 2021 Chiyoda Biodiversity Awards sponsored by Chiyoda Ward for its efforts to create a "beloved garden at Hosei University" that is aware of the biotope network in the "outer moat" that straddles Chiyoda and Shinjuku wards. The garden was awarded the "2021 Chiyoda Biodiversity Grand Prize" sponsored by Chiyoda Ward.

　Then, I look forward to seeing you all again at the "Beloved Garden at Hosei University".