Skip Navigation


Forestry Advance Access originally published online on August 10, 2006
Forestry 2006 79(5):535-551; doi:10.1093/forestry/cpl029
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
79/5/535    most recent
cpl029v2
cpl029v1
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by O'Brien, E.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

© Institute of Chartered Foresters, 2006. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

Social housing and green space: a case study in Inner London

Elizabeth O'Brien

Forest Research Social and Economic Research Group, Alice Holt Lodge, Farnham, Surrey GU10 4LH, England

E-mail: liz.o'brien{at}forestry.gsi.gov.uk


  Abstract

Urban woodlands and green spaces provide a range of benefits to people in densely populated areas: as places to use, view and enjoy. There is increasing interest in green spaces and their impacts on people's quality of life. The work described in this paper involved a partnership between Peabody Trust, a social housing association; the Forestry Commission and Trees for Cities, an environmental charity. The aim of the project was to involve residents in the use and enjoyment of their local woodland. The research gained an understanding of how the residents of two housing estates in South London view and experience their local woodland, called Peabody Hill Wood. Three focus groups and a questionnaire were undertaken with residents. Observations were also made at a community activity day and walk through the wood with local residents. From the analysis of the data, there was a complex mix of attitudes towards Peabody Hill Wood that related to not only the management of the wood but also the management of the buildings by Peabody Trust. This research highlights, as a number of other studies have, that woodlands near to where people live are valuable spaces and play a significant role by providing opportunity for contact with nature. Key implications of the research suggest that housing associations can have an important role to play in green space management. Partnership working with the environmental sector can help bring about much needed improvements to the environment. Working with communities and sustaining long-term commitment are also advocated.

Received 27 July 2006.
Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?




Disclaimer:
Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.