Appreciation of informal urban greenspace by Japanese and Australian residents

Christoph RupprechtPhD Candidate

Environmental Futures Centre, School of Environment

Invited talk at Japanese Geoscience Union 2013

Appreciation of Informal Urban Greenspace

by Japanese and Australian Residents

What is informal urban greenspace?

Vegetated urban space:

1. Human-modified (anthropogenic)

2. Dominated by spontaneous

vegetation (not planted)

3. Not recognised or managed as

• recreational space

• agricultural space

• conservation space

no gardens, parks etc.

Typology of informal urban greenspace

Street verge Gap

Railway Brownfield Waterside

Lots

Structural Microsite Powerline

Why is informal greenspace important?

Recreation benefits• Walking, exercise• Nature experience • Enjoying the scenery• Gardening …

Ecological benefits• Biodiversity• Animal/plant habitat• Eco-services (e.g. O2 production)

Planning topic• Urban landscape

appreciation• Growing/dense cities• Shrinking cities

Two cities: case study locations

Location Brisbane Sapporo

Founded 1824, city status 1902 1868, city status 1922

Population 1,07 mil. (2010) 1,3 mil. (2031) 1,9 mil. (2011) 1,8 mil. (2030)

Pop. density 770/km2 (peak >5,000/km2) 1,700/km2 (peak >8,000/km2)

Park space 32m2 per person 12m2 per person

Study & questionnaire design

• Letterbox-drop mail-back questionnaire

• ~2000 households per city

• In 400m radius of 121 sites on grid

• Information sheet & overview of IGS types• Main sections

1. IGS known in neighborhood

2. IGS use

3. IGS use as child or teenager

4. IGS appreciation

5. Attitude towards urban nature

6. Demographics

• Response rate:

6% Brisbane, 8% Sapporo

Brisbane n=121, Sapporo n=163

None Few (1-5) Some (5-10) Many (over 10)0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

SapporoBrisbane

% o

f re

spo

nd

ents

Residents’ perception of IGS

How many informal greenspaces do you know of in your neighbourhood?

Residents’ perception of IGS (2)

What types of IGS do you know?Sapporo Brisbane

77% Lots 72%

56% River banks 66%

54% Street verges 61%

Residents’ perception of IGS (3)

Better Both Worse Neutral0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

SapporoBrisbane

% o

f re

spo

nd

ents

Would you say informal greenspace makes your daily life better or worse?

Residents’ perception of IGS (4)

Benefits of informal greenspace

Similarities Sap. Bris.

“Every bit of green in the city is good” 67% 75%

“Plants filter air and produce oxygen” 49% 74%

“Grasses, trees and flowers are nice to look at” 46% 73%

“It provides a place to relax” 27% 39%

Differences Sap. Bris.

“Wildlife can live in them” 39% 89%

“It makes the neighborhood more interesting” 24% 66%

Residents’ perception of IGS (5)

Problems of informal greenspace

Similarities Sap. Bris.

“Littering” 91% 87%

“Full of weeds” 59% 58%

“Breeding ground for pest animals” 36% 39%

“Attracts unwanted individuals” 31% 32%

Differences Sap. Bris.

“Vandalism” 18% 58%

“Looks filthy and unorderly” 43% 27%

Residents’ use of informal greenspace

Do you use IGS for recreational activities?

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Sapporo Brisbane

% o

f re

spo

nd

ents

Similar activities:

1. Walking

2. Enjoying the view

3. Observing plants/animals

4. Walking the dog

• “Close to home” top use reason

• >70% report no use problems

Residents’ use of IGS in childhood

Did you use IGS as a child or teenager?

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Sapporo Brisbane

% o

f re

spo

nd

ents

>70% used IGS daily or weekly

Most popular activities

• Playing games

• Exploration

• Observing plants and animals

• Secret hiding place from

adults

Residents’ use of IGS in childhood (2)

No ball play!

>75% report no use problems

Reasons for using IGS

• Near home

• Wild & exciting

• No use restrictions

• No nice parks (Sapporo)

• Not crowded (Brisbane)

Residents’ voices: reflection on IGS

“It’s real, not fake like a park.” – Male, 41, Brisbane

Residents’ voices: reflection on IGS (2)

“We live in a very organised

world – it’s good when nature

takes over and reminds us that

we only have temporary use of

the space. In the urban

environment, man usually wins

the battle against nature, so it is

nice to see nature fighting

back where it can.”

– Female, 62, Brisbane

Residents’ voices: reflection on IGS (3)

“There is nothing pleasant,

calming or relaxing in looking at a

bit of a mess. […] It’s the

abandoned element I don’t like.”

– Female, 55, Brisbane

“Space that’s unmaintained and

where people’s eyes don’t reach

are dangerous.”

– Male, 45, Sapporo

Residents’ voices: reflection on IGS (4)

“Children can experience nature,

come in touch with all kind of

living things, learn about the

preciousness of life. It’s also a

great chance for them to make up

their own games and rules

rather than just use the play tools

they are given.”

– Female, 39, Sapporo

Residents’ voices: reflection on IGS (5)

“A neutral zone that belongs to nobody is

necessary: left-over room, margins,

interstices, space. A life like in the city,

where man-made objects are

surrounded by nothing but artificial

greenspace, is suffocating.”

– Male, 45, Sapporo

“Unlike maintained greenspace, it has

something you can grasp with all five

senses, and I don’t want it to disappear.”

– Female, 35, Sapporo

Preliminary analysis results

Potential explanations:

Cultural factors

Respondent income

✗ Age

✗ Sex

? Local IGS

characteristics

? Resident attitude

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

Sapporo Brisbane

% o

f re

sp

on

de

nts

Building a tree house as child

< 200 200 - 400

400 - 600

600 - 800

800 - 1000

1000 - 1250

> 1250

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%Yearly income in Mio. Yen

Sapporo

Brisbane

% o

f re

sp

on

de

nts

Summary: appreciation of IGS

People know, appreciate & use IGS

Important role for children’s play

Potential benefits & problems

New field – policy implications

Thank you! Questions…?

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Blog: www.treepolis.org

Twitter: @focx

Google+: Christoph Rupprecht

This presentation is available @ Slideshare!