My name is Karina, I’m a second year student of international spatial development at Breda University.

In the following sentences I’m going to tell why do I want to participate in the Bomen Nederland Studenten Challenge.

A green environment has many advantages. It has a positive effect on people's health and contributes to the quality of life in a neighbourhood. A green city improves the environment, ensures rich biodiversity, reduces air pollution, ensures water storage, dampens noise and help cooling down in warm periods. Green is also essential for a climate-proof and sustainable environment. In addition, there is a positive effect on the health and social connections of people living, working and recreating in a green environment.

While implementing trees all around the city, it will only brings benefits such as: children in green neighbourhoods for example will have less obesity. Also, children in poor green neighbourhoods receive 10 % fewer prescriptions for Ritalin than children in equally poor but obviously less green neighbourhoods. Another benefit is that green can offer an attractive place for playing and sports. More exercise also contributes to better health. In healthcare, there is increasing emphasis on the prevention of diseases. An attractive green environment contributes to this.

I’m Floris Hollebek and I study ISD in Breda. I’ve never been someone that goes outside a lot, but lately I found out why. Whilst I like living in urban areas I don’t really like going outside. Though I would prefer going outside if there is at some greenery and nature. I feel like this challenge is a good opportunity to come up with a solution to that.