Everyday encounters with nature: Students’ perceptions and use of university campus green spaces

Author: , and
Key words: , , , , ,
Issue: Volume 7, Issue 1, 2013

Abstract


Green spaces are an integral part of many university campuses. Universities with attractive green space areas often highlight these as attributes which contribute positively to the student experience and the image of the university. This study’s survey of students at Liverpool Hope University reveals insights about students’ perceptions and use of campus green spaces. The vast majority of students both use and appreciate green spaces, and consider them important for the image of the university and as an essential component of the campus environment. The aesthetic qualities of the campus and its design and management style, influence perceptions and use of its green spaces with formal, manicured gardens and lawns being much preferred over more naturalistic areas. We show that a university campus needs multiple forms of green spaces to satisfy the needs of a diversity of student users, and consider the implications for a university’s green space development.

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Authors Affiliations


Janet Speake,* Sally Edmondson, Haq Nawaz
Department of Geography, Liverpool Hope University, Liverpool, UK
* Corresponding author. Email: speakej@hope.ac.uk

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Title: Human Geographies - Journal of Studies and Research in Human Geography
ISSN online: 2067-2284
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Prof. dr. Liliana Dumitrache
University of Bucharest, Faculty of Geography- Human and Economic Geography Department, 1 Nicolae Balcescu Av., 010041, Bucharest, Romania

Dr. Daniela Dumbrăveanu
University of Bucharest, Faculty of Geography- Human and Economic Geography Department, 1 Nicolae Balcescu Av., 010041, Bucharest, Romania

Dr. Mariana Nae
University of Bucharest, Faculty of Geography- Human and Economic Geography Department, 1 Nicolae Balcescu Av., 010041, Bucharest, Romania

Dr. Gabriel Simion
University of Bucharest, Faculty of Geography- Human and Economic Geography Department, 1 Nicolae Balcescu Av., 010041, Bucharest, Romania

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