In and out of place: diverse experiences and perceived exclusion in UK greenspace settings

Palmer, A, Riley, M, Clement, S, Evans, K, Brockett, B and Opara, V ORCID: 0000-0002-5148-3204 (2025) 'In and out of place: diverse experiences and perceived exclusion in UK greenspace settings.' Environment and Planning E: Nature and Space. (Forthcoming)

Abstract

People from all sections of society should feel welcome and included to enjoy greenspaces. However, people from ethnic minority backgrounds may experience exclusionary practices and discriminatory processes, limiting their access, enjoyment, and benefits from such spaces. This paper aims to address these issues through an in-depth qualitative study exploring how 53 individuals from UK ethnic minority backgrounds residing in Bristol perceive and experience exclusion in UK greenspaces. Going beyond narratives that pathologise the exclusion of ethnic minorities from greenspaces, this research reveals a spectrum of experiences related to perceived exclusion, including both positive and negative, and challenges and expressions of empowerment and agency. Common experiences of exclusion are often intangible, necessitating sensitivity to their elusive and relational nature, with variation between urban and rural contexts. Drawing on Bourdieusian theories of practice, this study illuminates how social and cultural capital, habitus, and symbolic violence shape exclusionary practices and discriminatory processes, contributing to feelings of otherness, discomfort among UK ethnic minority group members in greenspaces. By highlighting the diverse nature of these processes and their variations across social and geographic contexts, this study emphasises the need for tailored, coproduced interventions to enhance greenspace accessibility and engagement. It advocates for recognising diverse experiences, integrating critical thought into environmental planning, and leveraging social and cultural capital to promote inclusivity and address systemic inequalities.

Item Type:	Article
UN SDGs:	Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
Keywords:	ethnic minority, nature, discrimination, environmental justice, greenspace
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > G Geography (General) G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GV Recreation Leisure H Social Sciences > HN Social history and conditions. Social problems. Social reform H Social Sciences > HT Communities. Classes. Races
Divisions:	Bath Business School
Date Deposited:	10 Jan 2025 17:23
Last Modified:	10 Jan 2025 17:23
ISSN:	2514-8486
URI / Page ID:	https://researchspace.bathspa.ac.uk/id/eprint/16781

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