Mapping the Mersey ForestExploring the significance of community-scale green infrastructure

Gemma Jerome | PhD Student | University of Liverpool| ESRC Studentship 2011-2015This work was supported by the Economic and Social Research Council [ES/J500094/1]

Contents Situating community-scale green

infrastructure/Identifying gaps in literature

Methodology: Mapping The Mersey Forest

Findings Defining the community-scale Identifying four distinct types

Conclusions

Situating green infrastructure Green infrastructure is ‘the network of natural and semi-

natural areas, features and green spaces in rural and urban areas, which together enhance ecosystem health and resilience, contribute to biodiversity conservation and benefit human populations through maintenance and enhancement of ecosystem services’ (Naumann et al, 2011: 14)

Ecosystem services are the benefits provided by ecosystems that contribute to making human life both possible and worth living… sometimes separated into ‘goods’ and ‘services’. (UK National Ecosystem Assessment, 2011)

Community-scale green infrastructure (CSGI) is ‘the network of natural and semi-natural areas, features and green spaces in rural and urban areas, providing ecosystem goods and services, which are managed and maintained principally by the work and investment of voluntary community groups’. These spaces are multi-functional in their output, and pluralistic in their membership and activities / outcomes.

However… current literature presupposes a picture of homogeneity at the community-scale, highlighting the contemporary focus of local food production, and diminishing established spaces whose focus is wider.

Therefore… this paper explores the nuances of CSGI within a predetermined geographical boundary, with the aim of re-establishing a picture of plurality and localised, adaptable approached to meeting ‘green infrastructure need’.

Methodology: Mapping The Mersey Forest

Findings Summary of characteristics:

Voluntary membership managed by volunteers

or set up to enable volunteers

Green infrastructure groups formal (constituted) informal (ad hoc)

Green infrastructure projects led by community sector

organisations Spatial focus (place-based

community) or activity focus (interest-based community)

Type – Formal Groups

Formal groups:•Formally constituted as a group (except Incredible Edible groups = ‘simple governance’)•Regular volunteer days/events•Spatial focus (one site)•Sample size – 100 approx.

Type - Formal Projects

Formal projects:•Supported / managed by community organisation •Initially organised around a theme, funding stream or set of needs relating to user groups •Short term / seasonal•Interest focus more common than site focus•Sample size – 100 approx.

Type – Informal Groups

Informal groups:•Ad hoc organisation•Campaigning nature/political in nature (changes in land use)•Site specific OR one-off activity e.g. street tree planting•Pluralist demographic •Often highlighted by awards ceremony or recognised in hindsight by formal initiative•Sophisticated use of social networks/social media• Population size – unknown

Conclusions The picture of homogeneity at the local,

‘community-scale’ lacks nuance Community-scale green infrastructure is

pluralistic in outcomes and membership There are three main types of CSGI; and

key differences include governance structure, and spatial or interest focus

An in depth case study approach would enable a richer discussion of the needs and capacities of each type to deliver and develop green infrastructure assets over time