What is it about?

I worked with a playwright to observe and interview people who spent time in a community garden. Our purpose was to develop the opening section of a play, demonstrating what the garden means to those who are associated with it. I found that working with a playwright enhanced my insight into the meanings attached to community gardening, and the ways it can impact wellbeing.

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Why is it important?

Social prescribing, or community referral, is increasingly used to promote mental and physical health and wellbeing. Meanwhile, concerns are being raised about people becoming disconnected from nature. Community gardens can contribute to both issues, connect people with nature and with each other. I investigate how creative and collaborative approaches to research can inform us about the potential for community gardening to enhance lives.

Perspectives

Creative approaches to research can help us comprehend social and cultural values, which may otherwise be difficult to grasp.

Yvonne Black
University of Hull

Read the Original

This page is a summary of: ‘The play’s the thing’: A creative collaboration to investigate lived experiences in an urban community garden, Management Learning, November 2019, SAGE Publications,
DOI: 10.1177/1350507619886209.
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