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Weatherwatch: Paving over front gardens is leading to hotter nights
Paving over front gardens for car parking is worsening urban heat islands, particularly at night, as hard surfaces absorb heat during the day and release it slowly after dark. Around 55% of UK front gardens are now paved, up from 7.5% in 2005. Research shows replacing paved areas with grass and trees could reduce urban temperatures by up to 1C.