Known but not done: how logics of inaction limit the benefits of urban green spaces

ABSTRACT

Empirical research has long shown positive connections between urban green spaces and their users’ wellbeing. But compelling evidence does not always lead to appropriate investment. In a study of the contribution of urban nature to mental wellbeing in Sheffield, UK, the authors identified greenspace investments that could lead to improved wellbeing and discussed their implementation with local stakeholders. However, this qualitative study also revealed a series of reasons why stakeholders in Sheffield would not proceed with such investments. Using the concept of ‘logics of inaction’ to examine stakeholders’ reasoning, this paper considers why such logics arise. It finds a mismatch between available evidence and the evidence practitioners say they need to justify investments. One consequence is that practitioners’ capacity to act on new knowledge is reduced, limiting innovation and potential benefits.

KEYWORDS:

• Urban greenspace
• wellbeing
• empirical evidence
• logics of inaction
• greenspace governance
• local context

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to colleagues on the Improving Wellbeing through Urban Nature project, led by Anna Jorgensen, who helped to shape, facilitate, and critique this research. We are grateful too for the feedback and comments of two anonymous reviewers.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. In our research we use the term ‘urban nature’ to include incidental flora and fauna, but this paper focuses specifically on public green spaces.

Additional information

Funding

The Improving Wellbeing through Urban Nature (IWUN) project was supported by the Natural Environment Research Council, ESRC, BBSRC, AHRC and Defra [NERC grant NE/N013565/1]. More information about IWUN is available at www.iwun.uk and the Valuing Nature programme is at https://valuing-nature.net

Notes on contributors

Julian Dobson

Julian Dobson is a senior research fellow at the Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research at Sheffield Hallam University, and previously worked with the University of Sheffield’s Department of Landscape Architecture on the IWUN project. He is currently involved in a range of projects on the social benefits and future prospects of urban green spaces.

Nicola Dempsey

Nicola Dempsey is Senior Lecturer in the Department of Landscape Architecture at the University of Sheffield. Her research interests are focused on how relevant policies, strategies and political rhetoric are implemented in and experienced by urban green and open spaces users. This calls on her long-standing research into place-keeping, which is the long-term management of our green and open spaces. The concept of place-keeping involves exploring innovative approaches to designing and managing open space while securing its long-term future by getting the right people, funding and policies in place.