How Does your Garden Grow?
Cities frequently consist of a mix of different habitats which are subject to varying degrees of change. From havens of peace and tranquillity or a space to dump the car, gardens represent both a challenge and an opportunity for wildlife.
Gardens have the capacity to support a surprisingly high level of biodiversity. This biodiversity is vital for the provision of ecosystem services, most notably those provided by pollination, and for the psychological health benefits that contact with nature has for people. Who doesn’t like to sit outside in the garden on a nice day, listening to birdsong? We are a nation of gardeners, right?
Well new research being undertaken by the University of Manchester might confirm or dispute this. With a growing population in the City, garden space is under pressure. Efforts to conserve and promote urban biodiversity are increasingly needed. Urban domestic gardens could be massively important for Biodiversity.
Gardens, although individually small in size, have the capacity to hold a high level of biodiversity and cover considerable areas of cities. Harnessing domestic gardens as a whole, and managing these habitats as a single habitat as opposed to many individual habitats (referred to as the habitat garden approach), may increase the area of habitat available to species and present a promising means of future-proofing urban biodiversity in the face of urbanisation.
What do people think about their gardens? Are they an integral part of daily life, or a redundant waste of space? What would they think about “ sharing” their gardens, as part of a collaborative initiative?
This research will explore what effect public perceptions and gardening practices of householders have on the potential benefits that the collective management of domestic gardens approach may bring for urban biodiversity.
This research will also explore what incentives and approaches could be employed to promote gardening for biodiversity. And we want you to be involved….
Please take part in this research project by completing the 10 minute survey available here.
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Contributor Profile
Advocate, Creative Concern
Joining Creative Concern from the education sector, Rachel brings with her experience of delivering a range of marketing activities including producing print and managing events.
Rachel graduated from Manchester University in 2008 with a degree in Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American Studies. After graduation she completed a training scheme in environmental regeneration with Groundwork, worked for Aimhigher Greater Manchester and in-house at Bolton College. She is currently supporting on a number of accounts including helping with Platform.
