Tijana leads the Ecosystem Services Research Programme, identifying the structural and functional traits of plants that can be isolated, optimised and employed to benefit the wider environment
I lead and deliver RHS research on the environmental benefits of gardens and urban green infrastructure. I am particularly interested in the contribution of plants to urban cooling, rainfall mitigation and air quality improvement. We are working to understand what underlying plant traits are most successful at this so that these plants can be harnessed to deliver multiple benefits. My post is based at the University of Reading (School of Agriculture, Policy and Development) where I teach a Part 3 / MSc module on Green Infrastructure and Ecosystem Services and supervise undergraduates, masters and PhD students.
“I take a lot of pleasure in collaborating scientifically. Collaborations take goodwill, compromise and mutual understanding, but bring so much in return – both professionally and personally.”
My research provides information to gardeners about the beneficial effects of plants in their gardens both to themselves and the wider environment. I hope it encourages them to keep as much of their garden as green as possible. My research highlights how a ‘humble’ hedge can provide so many benefits – protection from noise, improving air quality, reducing flooding risk and benefitting biodiversity. It also gives guidance on what plant characteristics you need in your planting to maximise those benefits.
I have supervised to completion more than six PhD students and more than 20 MSc and BSc students.
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.
