Backyard
History:
– In English suburban and gardening culture, back gardens hold significance.
– Over 10 million back gardens exist in Britain.
– British planning regulations mandate minimum distances between adjacent dwellings, allowing for back gardens.
– In Australia, traditional backyards with fowl runs and vegetable patches have given way to outdoor entertainment areas.
– Australian suburban development since the 1990s has seen a decline in backyards due to increased dwelling sizes.
Overview:
– Back gardens often arise when the main building divides surrounding gardens.
– In British high-density housing, semi-detached houses typically have front gardens facing the road and more secluded back gardens.
– Terraced housing may lack side paths, with access provided by rear alleys.
– Private backyards with privies were common in byelaw terraced houses.
– The back garden offers more privacy and versatility compared to front gardens.
Usage:
– Back gardens are typically more utilized in summer than winter.
– Functions can include growing food, playing games, relaxing, raising plants, and housing pets.
– Back gardens can serve as wildlife refuges, safe areas for children, or locations for air raid shelters.
– The varied uses of back gardens stem from restrictions on front garden activities.
– Social etiquette around neighbor interactions can vary, with some areas encouraging communication over back walls.
Contents:
– Backyards may feature items like barbecues, sheds, saunas, compost bins, or decking.
– Buildings such as barns, chicken coops, or playhouses can be present.
– Landscaping options range from lawns to playground equipment.
– Garden furniture like benches and umbrellas are common in back gardens.
– Renewable energy generators like solar panels might be integrated into the backyard.
References:
– Various academic sources have explored the significance and evolution of back gardens.
– Books and studies delve into the cultural, social, and environmental aspects of back gardens.
– The private and casual nature of back gardens is highlighted in research.
– Publications cover the historical context and development of European housing in Australia.
– Topics like garden feng shui, outdoor construction, and English domestic environments are discussed in relation to backyards.
A backyard, or back yard (known in the United Kingdom as a back garden or just garden), is a yard at the back of a house, common in suburban developments in the Western world.
It is typically residential garden located at the rear of a property, on the other side of the house from the front yard. While Western gardens are almost universally based on plants, the "garden" (which etymologically may imply a shorthand of botanical garden) may use plants sparsely or not at all. Hence, the terms yard and garden are for the context of this article interchangeable in most cases.