- improve the position of women in relation to planning, architecture and urban design issues
- provide an opportunity for women to share experiences of barriers and good practice
- promote feminist, inclusive thinking in planning, architecture and urban design
Women and Gardens in
the City
Wednesday 24th October
2007
The importance of gardening within the UK is well-known and undisputed: it is the single most popular outdoor leisure activity in the country. Access to a garden, however, is not a given, particularly in high-density urban areas and areas undergoing both physical and social change. Gardens are also under threat. According to a recent manifesto for ‘gardens, people and nature,’ 32 square kilometres in London alone – 22 times the size of Hyde Park – has been lost through gardens being paved over (Forum for Gardening with Wildlife in Mind, 2007; www.naturalengland.org.uk).
This seminar explored the significance of gardens for women and local communities. The speakers were Amanda Claremont, Steve Berry and Catherine Miller. Debra Rolfe acted as discussant. Key questions included:
- To what extent do women and men use and value gardens in different ways?
- How do gardens contribute to health, well-being and environmental sustainability?
- What are the roles of community gardens and allotments in urban development?
- Should gardens be protected in planning policy? What are the social and environmental costs of not protecting gardens?
The seminar included presentations covering women’s personal narratives of their gardens (from the Mass Observation Archive); the role of gardens in community development for women, with special emphasis on food production; and the challenge of landscaping new developments to include garden space when land is at such a premium in the UK.