2019 Conference Climate Change & Gardens 4. Helen Hoyle

Evolution in action? Public perception of non-native planting in the designed urban landscape Dr Helen Hoyle, Senior Lecturer in Healthy Built Environments, University of the West of England

Abstract: Throughout Europe climate change has rendered many plant species used in contemporary urban planting design less fit for use. There is growing evidence for the ecological value of introducing non-native species, yet urban policy and practice guidance continues to portray non- native species negatively, focusing on their assumed invasiveness. In this context there is a lack of research focusing on the cultural relevance of non-native species in the urban landscape.

To address this gap we surveyed 1411 members of the UK public who walked through designed and semi-natural planting of three levels of visual nativeness: “strongly native”; “intermediate” and “strongly non-native”, whilst completing a site-based questionnaire. We later carried out semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 34 of the original questionnaire participants. A majority (57.6%) of our participants would be happy to see more non-native planting in UK public spaces,

rising to 75.3% if it were better adapted to a changing climate than existing vegetation.

Participants recognised the three broad levels of nativeness, yet this was not a factor driving perceptions of the attractiveness of the planting. In addition to climate change, we identified four key factors driving acceptance and rejection of non-native planting: aesthetics; locational context; historic factors and inevitability; and perceptions of invasiveness and incompatability with native wildlife. Our research indicates that in the context of a changing climate, designers should focus on the potentially positive role of non-invasive, climate-adapted, aesthetically pleasing species within urban planting schemes. There is convincing evidence that these could be well-received by the public.