Running head: COMMUNICATING TO CHANGE GARDENING PRACTICES 1

A Review of Closing the Gap: Communicating to Change Gardening Practices in Support of

Native Biodiversity in Urban Private Gardens

Caroline Lanier

Wheeler High School Center for Advanced Studies

Author Note

Caroline G. Lanier, Center for Advanced Studies, Wheeler High School.

Caroline G. Lanier is a student at Wheeler High School’s Center for Advanced

Studies.

Instruction for the format of this paper, as well as additional resources, provided

by Dr. Ginny Berkemeier, Center for Advanced Studies, Wheeler High School.

Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Caroline Lanier,

Center for Advanced Studies, Wheeler High School, Marietta, GA 30068.

Contact: caroline.lanier@wheelermagnet.com

Abstract
 COMMUNICATING TO CHANGE GARDENING PRACTICES 2

This paper examines a study done by Yolanda M. van Heezik, Katharine J. M. Dickinson, and

Claire Freeman (2012), in which they attempted to improve the knowledge and actions of private

garden owners in order to better support native species and biodiversity health. The researchers

claimed that their designed process of biodiversity assessment, dialog and feedback between the Commented [1]: *dialog, and feedback

researcher and the homeowners was successful in improving knowledge of wildlife and native

species, leading to a positive attitude alteration. This paper will explore the claim, evidence, and

reasons developed by the researchers in order to seek the true validity of the article.

A Review of Closing the Gap: Communicating to Change Gardening Practices in Support of

Native Biodiversity in Urban Private Gardens

 COMMUNICATING TO CHANGE GARDENING PRACTICES 3

In many urban areas, private gardens cover a great portion of land. Between 22% and Commented [2]: maybe put "twenty-two" rather than
"22"
27% of the total area of seven UK cities (Loram et al. 2007), and 36% of a small New Zealand Commented [3]: and do the same for the other
percents
city (Mathieu et al. 2007) is utilized for private garden space explicitly owned by residents. As Commented [4]: Insert commas after "et al.". For
instance, "Loram et al., 2007"
such an integral part of urban society, gardens provide many different features that can promote Commented [5]: Insert comma
Commented [6]: You get the gist
biodiversity, provide biodiversity benefits (Goddard et al. 2010), and improve connectivity of

populations of native species (Doody et al. 2010). Therefore, these green spaces are extremely

important, acting as a refuges for native plant and animal species. However, the private Commented [7]: *refuge

ownership of these areas means that biodiversity support is largely based on the actions of

residents alone. This study aimed to effectively communicate with private garden owners in

order to increase environmental knowledge, specifically in the area of native species and

biodiversity importance. Researchers hoped that this knowledge would influence the public to

make more environmentally conscious decisions in their gardens.

Claim. The designed process of biodiversity assessment, dialog and feedback between Commented [8]: I'm not aware of the rules for the titles
here, but are you allowed to title each section like you
have?
the researcher and the homeowners was successful in improving knowledge of wildlife and
Commented [9]: *dialog, and feedback
native species, and led to a attitude alteration that overall resulted in gardening practices Commented [10]: *an attitude

beneficial to natives.

Reason. Through a minimum of eight visits by the research assistant to the property, each

householder learned more about their own gardens. The research assistant documented plant

species, landscape, vegetation, and animal presence, while also communicating with the

homeowner about any issues that had arisen or questions they had about their gardens.

Evidence. When householders were interviewed at the conclusion of the study, they

scored higher in naming species and categorizing them as either native or exotic then at the Commented [11]: *than

beginning of the study. Many participants also reported a shift in values, attitude, and
 COMMUNICATING TO CHANGE GARDENING PRACTICES 4

understanding; 65% reported a difference in their view of the garden, 40% in their understanding

of the garden’s importance as an ecosystem, and 26% in their gardening practices.

Discussion

As a whole, this 2012 study incorporates a wide variety of research and data collection

methods that set it apart. Not only does it comprehend the importance of gardens in the health of

native species, but it also takes a look at effective modes of communication when advocating for

change. Research assistants were able to access each participant’s garden in order to collect data

on the garden itself, as well as communicate with the homeowner about garden issues and

questions. However, some methods utilized throughout this study are inconsistent. Because the

research assistant was required to meet with each householder at least eight times, but there was

not an exact number specified otherwise, some householders may have gotten more or less out of

the experience because they had more or less time with the research assistant than other

participants. Though there may not be a clear way to make this more consistent between

participants, results could vary because of this difference. Furthermore, many research results are

largely based upon open-ended questions, which, while they may bring about a more precise

answer, may not provide for comparable and researchable data. Participants were also reported to

have some imbalances overall: women were over-represented in the study, as 39 out of the 55

were female, and 13 participants were aged over 65.

Further research is necessary in order to come to terms with the inconsistencies that were

evident in this study. While open-ended questions did provide for a more in-depth understanding

of the participants’ view shift at the conclusion of the study, more quantitative data should also

be collected to support the idea that more than just knowledge was changed.
 COMMUNICATING TO CHANGE GARDENING PRACTICES 5

References

Doody, B. J., Sullivan, J. J., Meurk, C. D., Stewart, G. H., & Perkins, H. C. (2010). Urban

realities: The contribution of residential gardens to the conservation of urban forest

remnants. Biodiversity and Conservation, 19. 1385-1400.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10531-009-9768-2
 COMMUNICATING TO CHANGE GARDENING PRACTICES 6

Goddard, M. A., Dougill, A. J., & Benton, T.G. (2010). Scaling up from gardens: Biodiversity

conservation in urban environments. Trends in Ecology and Evolution, 25(2).

http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10980-006-9051-9

Loram, A., Tratalos, J., Warren, P. H., and Gaston, K. J. (2007). Urban domestic gardens: The

extent and structure of the resource in five major cities. Landscape Ecology, 22. 601-615.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10980-006-9051-9

Mathieu, R., Freeman, C., & Aryal, J. (2007). Mapping private gardens in urban areas using

object-oriented techniques and very high resolution satellite imagery. Landscape and Commented [12]: *high-resolution

Urban Planning, 81. 179-192. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbpla n.2006.11.009

Van Heezik, Y. M., Dickinson, K. M., & Freeman, C. (2012). Closing the gap: Communicating

to change gardening practices in support of native biodiversity in urban private gardens.

Ecology & Society, 17(1), 455-463. Retrieved from the GreenFILE database.