Yorkshire Philosophical Society

Event Information

Gardening as a source of meaning in urban life 

James Hitchmough, Professor of Horticultural Ecology, University of Sheffield

British approaches to urban development and housing since the C19th have made ready access to a garden of some sort a reality for many people.  As a result we have become probably the world’s premier gardening culture, in terms of diversity, richness and passion.  Gardening is probably our most defining national cultural characteristic. Despite its huge impact on our perceived sense of well being, and creating the UK’s largest nature reserve for biodiversity conservation, in national policy dialogues gardening is often seen as rather trivial.  This lecture will explore why gardening is so powerful for us, and how might the designed landscapes of the urban public realm be re-thought to generate similar levels of engagement and meaning.

Report

Professor Hitchmough began by considering the role of gardens and gardening in everyday life in Britain. Gardens make a significant contribution to the natural environment, and provide homes to a wide variety of invertebrates. There are multiple reasons to engage in gardening, and it brings many benefits. Paradoxically, an almost universal involvement this activity seems to lead to the undervaluing of the study of landscape architecture in this country. Nevertheless, for James Hitchmough it is important to use the designed landscapes of the urban public realm to bring meaning and engagement to the general public. After turning away from his earlier ‘monoculture’ approach, his designs now fill huge areas with masses of different perennials, providing a constantly changing riot of colour. This is a low cost approach, but it supports wildlife, and engages huge public interest, as was amply demonstrated by the London Olympic Park, for which he was joint-consultant in Lead Planting Design and Horticulture.

Margaret Leonard