Connecting the green dots: Enabling micro-scale participatory mapping and planning for citizen stewards of biodiversity

Abstract

<p>Within cities, vegetation along road corridors (variously referred to as nature strips, street verges or easements) can play a key role in providing habitat for wildlife and green space benefits for urban dwellers. In the city of Perth, Australia, many local government authorities (LGAs) now permit residents to convert the publicly owned land along the street in front of their dwelling from ‘traditional’ (yet exotic) turf to low growing, native gardens. ‘Verge gardens’ are perceived to require less water and better reflect a local sense of place by using plants endemic to the biodiversity hotspot in which Perth is situated. While interest in native verge gardens is growing rapidly within the community, there is relatively little supporting, spatially-based information for residents. The uncertainty of not knowing where to start is keenly felt by those residents for whom verge gardening is their first foray into gardening with native Western Australian plants in the sandy, nutrient-poor soils of Perth’s Swan Coastal Plain.</p><p>Two LGAs in the city of Perth, Western Australia, were the focus of this research, both of which have deployed incentive programs to encourage residents to plant native verge gardens over many years. We conducted detailed semi-structured interviews and participatory verge garden mapping with 22 households who had converted their verges to native gardens over the last ten years, gauging residents’ views on verge gardening, nature, wildlife, community and sense of belonging. A small number of respondents were already highly knowledgeable on the topic of native plants before planting their gardens, while the majority of the respondents had increased their knowledge of native plants from a low initial level through the process of verge gardening. Verge gardens were mapped to highlight plant species diversity, age of garden and garden design style. Some residents had already drawn their own maps by hand, and shared these with us. Others kept detailed records of water usage, maintenance, plant growth and turnover, and insect and bird visitors to the gardens.</p><p>A consistent theme that emerged from interviews with the majority of residents who claimed limited familiarity with native plants was a desire for more readily available information to help support their efforts. Information needs included: environmental data on soils, landforms, flora and fauna; knowledge of which plants would grow well in their soil type; where to source locally endemic plants; the most appropriate water and nutrient regime to care for the plants; and nearby examples of successful gardens from which to draw inspiration. Drawing on the results of interviews and participatory mapping, we present a prototype design for a public participatory mobile application that can provide geospatial and ecological information to help support residents, allow for initial planning and progressive micro-scale mapping of verge gardens, and provide the possibility for sharing information on exemplar gardens. Our research feeds into larger conversations among local-level policy makers and planners on urban greening, increasing social cohesion within suburban areas, and providing habitat for wildlife under conditions of environmental change and increasing population density.</p>

The Lawn as a Social and Cultural Phenomenon in Perth, Western Australia

“…However, woody meadows cannot be walked on or used for recreation. Streetscapes and verges are the main targets in Australian cities for "rewilding" and native plant introduction (the substitution of lawns) which have also been studied from a sociological point of view (social norms and ecological values) [49,50].…”

Turning things around: A discussion of values, practices, and action in the context of social‐ecological change

“…Aside from wildlife gardening, another example comes from the conversion of street verges or nature strips to native gardens in Perth, Australia (Ligtermoet et al., 2021; Pauli et al., 2020; Pauli et al., 2021). While the majority of street verges in Australia are characterised by grass, sand, mulch or gravel, a growing number of residents are converting street verges into gardens, often using native plants (Ligtermoet et al., 2021).…”

“…Although households usually began verge gardening for practical reasons (e.g. to reduce time, expense, water use and maintenance), many reported learning more about native species and ecology through the process of doing verge gardening and wanted to attract wildlife, particularly bees and nectar‐feeding birds (Pauli et al., 2020; Pauli et al., 2021). Pauli et al.…”

“…Although households usually began verge gardening for practical reasons (e.g. to reduce time, expense, water use and maintenance), many reported learning more about native species and ecology through the process of doing verge gardening and wanted to attract wildlife, particularly bees and nectar-feeding birds (Pauli et al, 2020;Pauli et al, 2021). Pauli et al (2020) and Pauli et al (2021) found that with the support of local government, and increased social interactions that the verges inspired, native street verge gardening was becoming 'contagious' with multiple verges in streets being converted as residents copied their neighbours' practices.…”

“…to reduce time, expense, water use and maintenance), many reported learning more about native species and ecology through the process of doing verge gardening and wanted to attract wildlife, particularly bees and nectar-feeding birds (Pauli et al, 2020;Pauli et al, 2021). Pauli et al (2020) and Pauli et al (2021) found that with the support of local government, and increased social interactions that the verges inspired, native street verge gardening was becoming 'contagious' with multiple verges in streets being converted as residents copied their neighbours' practices. Households changing gardening practices through wildlife gardening or street verge gardening that are observed by neighbours and others in nearby social networks, help replicate practices and practice complexes, and with their spread, the way gardening is carried out in a particular locale starts to shift (Shove et al, 2012).…”