Connecting young people with greenspaces: The case for participatory video

Abstract

Abstract The values that people hold are thought to be key in bringing about the transformative change needed to halt biodiversity loss. Caring for nature has been conceptualised as a relational value and is thought to be largely shaped in childhood and adolescence. Relational values, arising from human–nature interactions, are increasingly being viewed as critical to halting biodiversity loss. However, caring for nature is not seen as sufficient to bring about pro‐environmental behaviour; a sense of efficacy is thought to also be required. As human societies become more urbanised, the greenspaces in and around our cites will become increasingly important as spaces where people can experience human–nature interactions. In our study, we explore participatory video (PV) as a tool for (a) providing new insights on young people's experience of greenspace, (b) enabling meaningful and transformative human–nature interactions and (c) building efficacy. The films produced by the young people showed that greenspaces were not for them; they were associated with violence and bullying or simply thought of as ‘boring’. The study also provided unexpected evidence for the potential of PV, to not only transform the way previously disengaged young people viewed their local greenspace but also how they use it, benefit from it and begin to change their behaviours towards it. The PV process also enabled young people, individually and collectively, to connect with nature and experience activities that enhanced their efficacy, confidence and sense of empowerment. We go on to discuss the potential of PV to help leverage the transformative change necessary to halt biodiversity loss and build more sustainable futures. A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.