This project set out to develop an evidence-based analysis informed by community use-mapping and local attitudes towards Leeds green spaces.
More than 45 million adults visit Leeds green spaces annually. The Culture Strategy for Leeds 2017-2030 identifies green spaces as centres for cultural activity. For Leeds to become an intercultural city, it is vital to recognise its community’s multicultural diversity and value these differences. Green spaces may provide one scalable community solution to this problem.
This interdisciplinary project addresses questions about living within diverse communities and ways of reimagining green spaces to promote belonging in Leeds.
Underpinned by under-represented community voices and interests, the work understands cultural behaviour attitudes towards the city’s parks and green areas.
The project investigated how some of the barriers that prevent people from feeling as though they belong in greenspaces can be overcome. Using belonging as a focal point in this work, it explores collective and individual mechanisms around belonging, including attraction, emotional connection, and space-making in green spaces.
Collaboration with Leeds City Council
This project was created in direct response to two documents published by Leeds City Council (LCC): the Culture Strategy for Leeds 2017-2030 and the Leeds Parks & Green Spaces Strategy 2022-32. Both reports place green spaces at the core of a vision for a city that offers social cohesion and wellbeing to its residents.
The project was co-designed and delivered though a strong partnership with Leeds City Council and community partners, such as Hyde Park Source. Major activities included:
- workshops with policymakers, community groups, and stakeholders
- policy mapping to understand best practice
- a community garden project in collaboration with Hyde Park Source.
Project output
A Guidance Report
The ‘Fostering belonging in green spaces: A guidance’ report was the core product of this project. It sets out an agenda as to how “belonging” can be used to respond to the challenges planners, designers and policy makers face with the design and sustainable management of inherited, established and emerging green spaces. Read the ‘Fostering belonging in green spaces: A guidance’ open access report (PDF).
Animation
The project animation shares what green spaces mean to people in the words and voices of its communities and users. It hopes to inspire the public and help them find value in the work. Watch ‘Integrating cultural cities through belonging in green spaces: project animation’ on YouTube
Video presentations
- Why belonging matters. In conversation with the project investigators, councillor and participants, this video shines a light on the project's local impact. It shares a full overview of the project, including why it was undertaken and what they did. Watch ‘Integrating cultural cities through belonging in green spaces: full summary’ on YouTube.
- The importance of green spaces to communities and individual wellbeing. Professor Gehan Selim, who leads this project, shares her thoughts on the significance of this work. Watch ‘Integrating cultural cities through belonging in green spaces: interview with Professor Gehan Selim’.
- Community mapping. Dr Pam Birtill talks about the community mapping element of the Integrating cultural cities through belonging in green spaces project. Watch ‘Integrating cultural cities through belonging in green spaces: community mapping’ on YouTube.
- Belonging in green spaces: practice and policy. Marie Avril-Berthet summarises the ‘Integrating Intercultural Cities through Belonging in Green Spaces’ project work and results. Watch ‘Belonging in green spaces: practice and policy’ on YouTube.
Blog – Helping everyone feel the benefits of green spaces
Whilst the project was underway, a blog about their progress was written in March 2023 to introduce the project, the research team, and their plans. You can read the post Helping everyone feel the benefits of green spaces on the Policy Leeds Medium blog.
Contact
For more information email Professor Gehan Selim at g.selim@leeds.ac.uk.