Abstract
The purpose of this study was to explore perceptions of the benefits and challenges experienced by community and allotment gardens utilising a broad theoretical analysis, pertaining to the case study of Melbourne, a city in Australia that until recently has been experiencing significant population growth and urban densification. The study involved qualitative, semi-structured interviews with 23 participants from six urban community and allotment gardens. Interviews identified the perceived benefits of community and allotment gardening, perceived demographic patterns of engagement, challenges faced in relation to secure land access, and the potential offered by community and allotment gardens for social and environmental wellbeing. Findings revealed a range of perceived benefits, perceived demographic patterns, highlighted challenges posed to participation due to insecurity around ongoing land access, and detailed the perceived capacity community and allotment gardens have to contribute to social and environmental wellbeing. This study contributes to existing literature focused on the benefits and potential of community and allotment gardening for personal, social and environmental wellbeing, by offering an original theoretical contribution through carrying out an analysis informed by urban geography, phenomenology, political economy and ecology, and to literature focused on issues of access to land for these amenities.
Highlights
Quality of urban living is an important area of study that encompasses peoples’ perceptions regarding quality of life, as well as issues of proximity to places of employment and recreation [1]
This study aims to contribute to this literature by incorporating a holistic conceptual framing connecting people and place, reflected more broadly by linking the disciplines of urban geography, phenomenology, political economy and ecology
The results and discussion sections, outlined thematically, include: (1) the benefits of access to open green places; (2) perceptions of who participates in community and allotment gardening; (3) levels of value and support for community and allotment gardens; and (4) change-making from the ground up
Summary
Quality of urban living is an important area of study that encompasses peoples’ perceptions regarding quality of life, as well as issues of proximity to places of employment and recreation [1]. Living within an urban context presents concerns if shaped by disconnection between people and the natural environment [2] in which individuals may experience what has been termed overload and mental fatigue, being exposed to more information and stimulation than can be processed [3,4]. When urban life has “reached a certain level of artifice and complexity”, people turn to the environment, appreciating its “relative simplicities” [5] Research shows that opportunities to connect with nature can alleviate mental fatigue [3], offer a sense of restoration from daily stressors [6] and provide a range of psychological benefits such as relaxation [7]. Community and allotment gardening as activities can be seen to bring together the aforementioned benefits of connecting with nature and community
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