Thami Croeser, Georgia Garrard and Sarah Bekessy
The Cheonggyecheon stream in the heart of Seoul, which used to be a major highway. Shutterstock
The idea of transforming cities from concrete jungles to urban forests is a popular one, and there have been some trulyinspiring, exemplar projects in recent years.
The transformation of a Seoul freeway to Cheonggyecheon parkland, exposing the historical river that once flowed there, is one celebrated example (pictured above).
Projects like this are commendable, as urban nature has considerable benefits including, for instance, improving mental health and boosting urban biodiversity.
But has your city actually turned into a lush oasis yet? No, neither has ours.