Place-Keeping in the Park: Testing a Living Lab Approach to Facilitate Nature Connectedness in Urban Greenspaces
Abstract
:1. Introduction
1.1. Public Participation, Citizen Science, and Greenspace Governance
1.2. Research Problem—Urban Greenspace Governance and Access
1.3. Research Aims and Research Question
2. Literature Review
2.1. Nature Connectedness and Environmental Stewardship
2.2. Citizen Science and Placemaking: The Living Lab Approach
2.3. Gap in Knowledge—Promoting Nature Connectedness with a Citizen Science Toolkit
3. Materials and Methods
3.1. Methodology
3.2. Research Design
3.3. Research Process
3.3.1. The Nature Data Probe Toolkit
- Custom-designed logbook with pages for entering observations and data;
- Blank Paper tags;
- Prototyping materials;
- QR codes to link to live data dashboard of data from the sensors;
- IoT Senstick environmental sensor (temperature, humidity, and pressure) *;
- IoT Senstick soil sensor;
- Pencils;
- Purpose-made plywood carry box;
- Large map of Central Park with Post-Its (for the mapping exercise).
3.3.2. The Context: Plymouth, UK
3.3.3. Participants
3.4. Data Collection
3.4.1. Baseline Survey
3.4.2. Mapping Exercise
3.4.3. Qualitative Nature Data—The Nature Data Probe Logbook
3.5. Limtiations of the Research
4. Results
4.1. Survey: Baseline Evaluation of Perceptions of Nature, Parks, and Technology
4.1.1. Baseline Survey on Greenspace Engagement and Attitudes towards Nature
4.1.2. Nature Connectedness and Greenspace Accessibility
4.2. Mapping Spatial Relationships and Engagement with Nature in Central Park
4.2.1. Engagement with Nature
4.2.2. Pathways to Nature Connection
4.2.3. ‘What Nature Do You See in the Park?’
4.2.4. Barriers and Challenges to Accessing Greenspaces
4.3. Developing Nature Connection—Nature Data Probe
4.3.1. Nature Data Probe Logbook—Reflective Journaling in the Park
4.3.2. ‘What Nature Do You See in the Park?’
5. Discussion
5.1. Nature Connection and Greenspace Engagement
5.2. Revealing Hidden Nature: Engagement in Greenspace and Citizen Science
Revealing Hidden Nature as a Pathway to Greenspace Governance
6. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
References
- Miller, J.R. Biodiversity conservation and the extinction of experience. Trends Ecol. Evol. 2005, 20, 430–434. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Neal, P. Rethinking Parks: Exploring New Business Models for Parks in the 21st Century. 2013. Available online: https://media.nesta.org.uk/documents/rethinking_parks.pdf (accessed on 1 April 2023).
- Richardson, M.; Hunt, A.; Hinds, J.; Bragg, R.; Fido, D.; Petronzi, D.; Barbett, L.; Clitherow, T.; White, M. A Measure of Nature Connectedness for Children and Adults: Validation, Performance, and Insights. Sustainability 2019, 11, 3250. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Toomey, A.H.; Domroese, M.C. Can citizen science lead to positive conservation attitudes and behaviors? Hum. Ecol. Rev. 2013, 20, 50–62. [Google Scholar]
- Geddes, M. Partnership and the Limits to Local Governance in England: Institutionalist Analysis and Neoliberalism-GEDDES-2006-International Journal of Urban and Regional Research-Wiley Online Library. Int. J. Urban Reg. Res. 2006, 30, 76–97. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Mathers, A.; Dempsey, N.; Molin, J.F. Place-keeping in action: Evaluating the capacity of green space partnerships in England|Elsevier Enhanced Reader. Landsc. Urban Plan. 2015, 139, 126–136. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Swyngedouw, E. Governance Innovation and the Citizen: The Janus Face of Governance-beyond-the-State. Urban Stud. 2005, 42, 1991–2006. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Ward Thompson, C.; Travlou, P. Open Space: People Space; Routledge: Abingdon, UK, 2007. [Google Scholar]
- Martin, L.; White, M.P.; Hunt, A.; Richardson, M.; Sabine, P.; Burt, J. Nature contact, nature connectedness and associations with health, wellbeing and pro-environmental behaviours|Elsevier Enhanced Reader. J. Environ. Psychol. 2020, 68, 101389. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- NE. Monitor of Engagement with Natural Environment–Nature Connectedness among Adults and Children in England; Natural England: York, UK, 2020. [Google Scholar]
- Richardson, M.; Passmore, H.-A.; Barbett, L.; Lumber, R.; Thomas, R.; Hunt, A. The green care code: How nature connectedness and simple activities help explain pro-nature conservation behaviours-Richardson-2020-People and Nature-Wiley Online Library. People Nat. 2020, 2, 821–839. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Alcock, I.; White, M.P.; Pahl, S.; Duarte-Davidson, R.; Fleming, L.E. Associations between pro-environmental behaviour and neighbourhood nature, nature visit frequency and nature appreciation: Evidence from a nationally representative survey in England. Environ. Int. 2020, 136, 105441. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Lupp, G.; Zingraff-Hamed, A.; Huang, J.J.; Oen, A.; Pauleit, S. Living Labs—A Concept for Co-Designing Nature-Based Solutions. Sustainability 2020, 13, 188. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Sorensen, A.E.; Jordan, R.C.; LaDeau, S.L.; Biehler, D.; Wilson, S.; Pitas, J.-H.; Leisnham, P.T. Reflecting on Efforts to Design an Inclusive Citizen Science Project in West Baltimore. Citiz. Sci. Theory Pract. 2019, 4, 1–12. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Ward Thompson, C.; Roe, J.; Aspinall, P.; Mitchell, R.; Clow, A.; Miller, D. More green space is linked to less stress in deprived communities: Evidence from salivary cortisol patterns. Landsc. Urban Plan. 2012, 105, 221–229. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- PHE. Improving Access to Greenspace: A New Review for 2020. London. 2020. Available online: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/904439/Improving_access_to_greenspace_2020_review.pdf (accessed on 1 April 2023).
- Day, G.; Fuller, R.A.; Nichols, C.; Dean, A.J. Characteristics of immersive citizen science experiences that drive conservation engagement-Day-2022-People and Nature-Wiley Online Library. People Nat. 2022, 4, 983–995. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- DEFRA The National Adaptation Programme and the Third Strategy for Climate Adaptation Reporting: Making the Country Resilient to a Changing Climate. London, UK. 2018. Available online: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/727252/national-adaptation-programme-2018.pdf (accessed on 1 April 2023).
- UNEP. Vision for Change: Recommendations for Effective Policies on Sustainable Lifestyles, Paris, France. 2011. Available online: https://wedocs.unep.org/handle/20.500.11822/8025 (accessed on 1 April 2023).
- Frantz, C.M.; Mayer, F.S. The importance of connection to nature in assessing environmental education programs|Elsevier Enhanced Reader. Stud. Educ. Eval. 2014, 41, 85–89. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Lumber, R.; Richardson, M.; Sheffield, D. Beyond knowing nature: Contact, emotion, compassion, meaning, and beauty are pathways to nature connection. PLoS ONE 2017, 12, e0177186. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Haklay, M. Citizen Science and Volunteered Geographic Information: Overview and Typology of Participation. In Crowdsourcing Geographic Knowledge: Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI) in Theory and Practice; Sui, D., Elwood, S., Goodchild, M., Eds.; Springer: Berlin/Heidelberg, Germany, 2013; pp. 105–122. [Google Scholar]
- Overdevest, C.; Orr, C.H.; Stepenuck, K. Volunteer stream monitoring and local participation in natural resource issues. Hum. Ecol. Rev. 2004, 11, 177–185. [Google Scholar]
- Toomey, A.H.; Strehlau-Howay, L.; Manzolillo, B.; Thomas, C. The place-making potential of citizen science: Creating social-ecological connections in an urbanized world. Landsc. Urban Plan. 2020, 200, 103824. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Robles, A.G.; Hirvikoski, T.; Schuurman, D.; Stokes, L. Introducing ENoLL and Its Living Lab Community. Brussels, Belgium. 2015. Available online: https://issuu.com/enoll/docs/enoll-print (accessed on 1 April 2023).
- Higgins, A.; Klien, S. Introduction to the Living Lab Approach. In Accelerating Global Supply Chains with IT-Innovation; Tan, Y.-H., Björn-Andersen, N., Klien, S., Rukanova, B., Eds.; Springer: Berlin/Heidelberg, Germany, 2011; pp. 31–36. [Google Scholar]
- Bulkeley, H.; Marvin, S.; Palgan, Y.V.; McCormick, K.; Breitfuss-Loidl, M.; Mai, L. Urban living laboratories: Conducting the experimental city? Eur. Urban Reg. Stud. 2018, 26, 317–335. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Balestrini, M.; Diez, T.; Pólvora, A.; Nascimento, S. Mapping Participatory Sensing and Community-Led Environmental Monitoring Initiatives; European Commission: Brussels, Belgium, 2016. [Google Scholar]
- Costa, C.S.; Batista, J.S.; Almeida, I.; Menezes, M. Exploring teenagers’ spatial practices and needs in light of new communication technologies. Cities 2020, 98, 102574. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Schaaf, K.; Beshparova, M. ISCAPE Playbook. 2019. Available online: https://www.iscapeproject.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/iSCAPE_Playbook_Online.pdf (accessed on 1 April 2023).
- Amirrudin, A.; Harrigan, N.; Naqvi, I. Scaled, citizen-led, and public qualitative research: A framework for citizen social science. Curr. Sociol. 2021, 00113921211056057. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Eberhardt, R.A.; Evans-Agnew, C. Uniting action research and citizen science: Examining the opportunities for mutual benefit between two movements through a woodsmoke photovoice study. Nurs. Healthc. Leadersh. Publ. 2018, 17, 357–377. [Google Scholar]
- PCC. Plymouth’s Green Infrastructure Delivery Plan: Positive Planning for the Natural Environment. 2010. Available online: https://www.plymouth.gov.uk/green-infrastructure-delivery-plan (accessed on 1 April 2023).
- LUC. Plymouth Policy Area Open Space Assessment; Plymouth City Council: London, UK, 2017. Available online: https://www.plymouth.gov.uk/sites/default/files/PlymouthPolicyAreaOpenSpaceAssessment.pdf (accessed on 1 April 2023).
- PCC. Central Park Area Action Plan 2006-2021. Plymouth. 2008. Available online: https://www.plymouth.gov.uk/central-park-area-action-plan (accessed on 1 April 2023).
- Holland, F. Out of Bounds: Equity in Access to Urban Nature—An Overview of the Evidence and What It Means for the Parks, Green and Blue Spaces in Our Towns and Cities. 2021. Available online: https://www.groundwork.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Out-of-Bounds-equity-in-access-to-urban-nature.pdf (accessed on 1 April 2023).
- Gaver, W.; Dune, A.; Pacenti, E. Design: Cultural Probes. Interactions 1999, 6, 21–29. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Jordan, R.C.; Sorensen, A.E.; Biehler, D.; Wilson, S. Citizen science and civic ecology: Merging paths to stewardship. J. Environ. Stud. Sci. 2018, 9, 133–143. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Engagement with Greenspace | Typical Response |
---|---|
Non-nature-based activities (n = 104) | ‘My favourite place in the park is Life Centre because there’s a lot of activities and you can do sport’ ‘My favourite activities are playing football and playing the park while eating’ |
Indirect engagement with nature through indirect contact (n = 86) | ‘I like meeting up with my friends and walking my dog is fun here (in the park)’ |
Valuing nature for physical wellbeing (n = 22) | ‘I like running in the park’ |
Valuing nature for mental wellbeing (n = 3) | ‘I like walking through the trees because it clears my mind’ |
Category | Example Response |
---|---|
Park maintenance (n = 55) | ‘Litter is bad, litter is really really bad’, |
Perception or memory of the space (n = 13) | ‘I don’t go to the park because it smells like drugs’ |
Safety (n = 14) | ‘Poorly lit areas, weird people, broken equipment, vandalism, sketchy places’ |
References to people and their general behaviour in the park (n = 14) | ‘People don’t pick up after their dogs’ |
Outliers (n = 38) | ‘It’s very boring, there’s nothing to do’ |
Disclaimer/Publisher’s Note: The statements, opinions and data contained in all publications are solely those of the individual author(s) and contributor(s) and not of MDPI and/or the editor(s). MDPI and/or the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to people or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content. |
© 2023 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Share and Cite
Willis, K.; Gupta, A. Place-Keeping in the Park: Testing a Living Lab Approach to Facilitate Nature Connectedness in Urban Greenspaces. Sustainability 2023, 15, 9930. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15139930
Willis K, Gupta A. Place-Keeping in the Park: Testing a Living Lab Approach to Facilitate Nature Connectedness in Urban Greenspaces. Sustainability. 2023; 15(13):9930. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15139930
Chicago/Turabian StyleWillis, Katharine, and Ashita Gupta. 2023. "Place-Keeping in the Park: Testing a Living Lab Approach to Facilitate Nature Connectedness in Urban Greenspaces" Sustainability 15, no. 13: 9930. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15139930