Cultivating Spaces
Synopsis
The Group’s fieldwork took place over November and December 2010 and was focused on cultivating spaces in and around Hackney Marshes. The group’s task was three-fold: a) to explore how cultivating spaces enhance the appropriation of Hackney Marshes and surrounding areas, b) to examine potentials and constraints to enhance environmental justice through cultivating, and c) to identify potentials for cross-fertilization with other activities taking place in the area. Environmental justice was used as the framework for the assignment and research activities that would form the baseline data for our analysis. Appropriation in the context of cultivating spaces was considered as a way in which communities transform their surrounding environment into meaningful places that allow people to follow their own aspirations and needs.
A combination of quantitative and qualitative techniques were applied during the fieldwork research. Key informants were interviewed using both semi-structured interviews and Fous Group Discussions. Questionnaires were disseminated to engage with a larger cross-section of the community. Additionally, participatory mapping techniques were used to engage the interviewees; to capture immediately from the interviewees’ uses of the Marsh and to initiate a visioning process of potential spaces for activities related to cultivating spaces.
In the light of the undergoing changes in and around Hackney Marshes, the intention of this study was to engage the communities in the process of considering uses and appropriations of Hackney Marshes and to provide findings from which the communities may build a response and greater understanding of cultivating activities in the area.
Key findings
Synopsis
The Group’s fieldwork took place over November and December 2010 and was focused on cultivating spaces in and around Hackney Marshes. The group’s task was three-fold: a) to explore how cultivating spaces enhance the appropriation of Hackney Marshes and surrounding areas, b) to examine potentials and constraints to enhance environmental justice through cultivating, and c) to identify potentials for cross-fertilization with other activities taking place in the area. Environmental justice was used as the framework for the assignment and research activities that would form the baseline data for our analysis. Appropriation in the context of cultivating spaces was considered as a way in which communities transform their surrounding environment into meaningful places that allow people to follow their own aspirations and needs.
A combination of quantitative and qualitative techniques were applied during the fieldwork research. Key informants were interviewed using both semi-structured interviews and Fous Group Discussions. Questionnaires were disseminated to engage with a larger cross-section of the community. Additionally, participatory mapping techniques were used to engage the interviewees; to capture immediately from the interviewees’ uses of the Marsh and to initiate a visioning process of potential spaces for activities related to cultivating spaces.
In the light of the undergoing changes in and around Hackney Marshes, the intention of this study was to engage the communities in the process of considering uses and appropriations of Hackney Marshes and to provide findings from which the communities may build a response and greater understanding of cultivating activities in the area.
Key findings
- There is a wide variety of existing user groups in Hackney, involved in different growing activities such as food growing, restoration of natural areas, wildflower meadows, tree planting, and combined projects.
- The motivations why people get involved in growing activities vary. However, the wish to meet people, to be close with nature and to learn and share experiences about growing food and plants are main reasons for people to participate in gardening activities in Hackney.
- Community gardening can strengthen community bonds and people’s identification with place in the area. It can bring people in touch with their environment and with the source of their food, and ultimately improve urban spaces and the local environment in Hackney by attracting life and biodiversity.
- Lack of information about existing groups and lack of encouragements regarding possibilities for involvement as well as actual and perceived time constraints and language barriers (in the case of migrant communities) seem to main barriers that hinder involvement in gardening in Hackney.
- Groups currently involved in gardening activities are predominantly white middleclass. Some social groups such as migrants, unemployed and people with health issues are rarely involved in gardening activities in the area studied. Reasons might be a feeling of disconnectedness towards the community and/ or unawareness of activities and possibilities for involvement.
- Interrelation between existing user groups is still rare. By strengthening the communication between user groups through a common platform experiences and knowledge could be shared more effectively and could build further relationships towards healthy and sustainable communities.
- There is potential for overlaps and cooperation with group less specialised in growing. The tree-planting project “Palas por Pistolas” by a Mexican artist in 2009 links to the arts, while growing schemes exist in schools and businesses in Hackney. New links could be forged, and existing ones extended for future cooperation.
Justice in the Green Community Map
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