Ethnographic Study of the Heaton Garden Project

The Heaton Garden Project (HGP) is a pioneering initiative that encourages residents to cultivate pollinator-friendly flowers/vegetables in their front gardens. From an urban planning perspective, the project is fascinating, transforming under-utilised space while nurturing social and ecological sustainability. An ethnographic study will produce a nuanced account of HGP, attending closely to aspects such as time scarcity and ability to look after the plants over the growing cycle, while exploring aspects of community cohesion that come out of the project. This will increase project impact while contributing to academic debate around work-life balance, nature, and wellbeing in the urban environment.