Beyond the Garden Walls
: Community Perspectives of the Role, Value, and Impact of University of Dundee Botanic Garden

Tanya MacDonald

Education and Society

Student thesis: Doctoral Thesis › Doctor of Philosophy

Abstract

This thesis explores the role, value, and impact of the University of Dundee Botanic Garden (UoD BG) in relation to the community at large and its contribution towards sustainability initiatives, namely the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This comes at a time of increasing urbanisation and decreasing human-nature connectedness and in the context of research which identifies botanic gardens (BGs) as uniquely situated within society as places for human-nature (re)connection with potential to transform and increase pro-environmental attitudes and behaviours.

Set within the context of the UoD BG in Dundee, Scotland, the research investigates community perceptions of the UoD BG through a holistic lens which embraces systems thinking. Employing a relational approach, this case study recognises the interdependencies of human and ecosystem health and seeks to better understand the relationship between the UoD BG, their community, and sustainability. To accomplish this, the research employed mixed methods that included a general community survey, staff interviews, and World Café sessions with focus groups including: UoD affiliates, UoD BG external partners, UoD BG general community members, and a group of local primary students.

Thematic analysis highlighted economic, social, and environmental aspects of the UoD BG’s role within the community providing evidence of their complex and multifaceted relationship through the wide range of activities they engage in categorised as: Education & Training, Research & Innovation, Horticulture & Conservation, Community Engagement & Recreation, Work & Employment, and Collaboration & Partnership. While inextricably intertwined with one another, these activities extend beyond the boundaries of the UoD BG garden walls, especially through their community engagement, education, projects and partnerships which emphasises a growing social role for BGs, confirming trends identified in the literature.

Findings identify the ways in which the UoD BG supports meaningful (re)connections between humans and non-human nature and are underscored by future-thinking that challenges more traditional definitions of BGs and situates the UoD BG as a sustainability hub. The findings also show alignment, albeit varying strength in connection, between all 17 of the SDGs and the UoD BG’s work demonstrating their connectivity and highlighting further potential. They illustrate the value of the UoD BG’s work in relation to sustainability and discuss the ways in which strategy, priorities, and the use of tools and frameworks such as the SDGs can be consolidated as benchmarks for demonstrating economic, social, and environmental value within BGs more broadly and within the context of local, national, and global sustainable development.

This research provides evidence of the meaningful engagement and conversations the UoD BG community are engaged in but also highlights some of the systemic issues and barriers of further expansion which restricts further potential of the UoD BG’s value and impact. In addition to increasing awareness and promotion of pro-environmental behaviours, the findings demonstrate that further focus on these areas by BGs would help to ensure community awareness of not only BG work and future direction that focuses on sustainable futures, but actively empowers and involves the community in the transformation process.

The study findings can be used to inform future strategy of the UoD BG and have implications for connected partners and community members. Other BGs and similar organisations may look to this research as a case study example of how an individual BG and their community can engage in reflexivity together which supports the evolving role of BGs in meeting the needs of society and further support sustainable development. Lastly, the research can be used to inform practice and policy for civic authorities such as local councils, industry leaders, and technical networks such as Botanic Garden Conservation International (BGCI) and the International Association for Botanic Gardens (IABG).