THE WILD CITY the Coexistence of Wildlife and Human in Sheffield
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THE WILD CITY The coexistence of wildlife and human in Sheffield 1970 3) 2020 future URBAN DESIGN THESIS PROJECT KEXIN CAI University of Sheffield School of Architecture ARC6982 Urban Design Project 3: Thesis The Wild City Academic Year 2019/2020 Module leader: Dr Beatrice De Carli Coexistence of wildlife and human in Sheffield Kexin Cai Registration no. 190249405 Supervisor: Beatrice De Carli, Cathryn Klasto, Esra Can Thesis submitted to the University of Sheffield in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of MA in Urban Design Sheffield, 4 September 2020 Abstract In the UK, over 90% of the population already lives in cities. Human activities heavily impact on living conditions of wildlife and they alter wildlife habitats in cities. It is of great importance to bring wildlife back to cities and build wildlife-inclusive cities where humans and animals can friendly coexist. This thesis design aims to explore and analyze how urban design practitioners could deploy design methods to support wildlife and designing coexistence of human and wildlife in contemporary cities. The design-based research starts with the background context of both United Kingdom and Sheffield, investigating the state and pressures of wildlife. Due to the threatened situation of Willow tit in the UK and Sheffield, the analysis mainly focusses on the state of Willow tit in Sheffield, considering the background and specificity of this species. Then develops the problem statement and research questions in 3 aspects: space, social and management aspect. Next, the research of theoretical background strongly supports the whole thesis. The concept of ‘Care’ plays as a guiding principle in each aspect and ‘rewilding’ is the key practice throughout the development and design, aiming to construct a wildlife-inclusive city in Sheffield. Next, the site exploration is illustrated to show the progressive research process, problems, potentials of site and population needs through field work, mapping, interviewing and personas. Case studies which focus on willow tit and rewilding, help develop the design section. After that, the design proposal is further developed and the rewilding process is divided into 3 phases according to the scale: wild woodland, wild greenspace and school and wild street. Strategies are developed in three aspects and toolkits for willow tit in spatial aspect are proposed. The strategies and toolkit can be further extended to other species and areas. Finally, the reflection and conclusion are made, hoping to provide new ideas and approaches when applied to other similar contexts. Table of contents 11 INTRODUCTION 12 Context 16 Problem Statement 18 Theoretical Background 22 Research Question 24 Methodology 26 SITE EXPLORATION 27 Location 28 Species focus 30 Site selection 32 Mapping 34 Field Work 36 Interviewing 38 Personas 40 Summary 41 CASE STUDIES 42 Framework 44 Case study 1/2 46 Case study 3/4 48 DESIGN PROPOSAL 49 Design framework 50 Initial Ideas 52 Collaborative Network 54 Design Process 56 Masterplan 58 Phase 1 62 Phase 2 66 Phase 3 71 IMPACT ANALYSIS 72 Future growth 74 CONCLUSION 76 BIBLIOGRAPHY Acknowledgments I would like to thank the following people for helping with this research project: I would first like to thank my thesis advisor Dr Beatrice De Carli, Cathryn Klasto, Esra Can of the School of architecture at the the University of Sheffield. Thank you for your willingness to impart your knowledge. Your insight and knowledge into the thesis project steered me through this research. I would particularly like to thank those involved people who agreed to be interviewed. Thank you for taking time to complete my questionnaire and contributing through further comments and emails. I would also like to express my very profound gratitude to my parents and friends for providing me with unfailing support and continuous encouragement throughout my years of study and through the process of researching and writing this thesis. Finally, I would like to say thank you to other important people for your patience and encouragement. Without your help, I would not have been able to complete this research, and I would not have made it through my masters degree. 1 Introduction Context Agricultural management Climate change Context of United Kindom1 1 State of Nature Re- port 2019 State of Wildlife Since the 1970s, agricultural productivity Since the 1980s, the average decline in average decline in average have decreased has gradually increased by 1.5 times. In the temperature in the UK has risen by species’ abundance species’ distribution in abundance past 45 years, agriculture is considered to nearly 1°C. Climate change is affecting be the most important factor in changing various indicators of British wildlife, biodiversity. However, most of the impacts including abundance, distribution, are negative. Among them, the indicator of and ecology, and these changes will farmland birds has fallen by 54%. continue for decades or even hundreds of years. Pollution of species show of species are most CBD targets Urbanisation strong changes threatened won’t be net While the spread of air and water pollution continues to have a serious impact on Britain’s sensitive habitats and According to the State of Nature Report 2019, the abundance and distribution of species freshwaters, new pollutant threats are also in Britain has been declining since 1970, which has continued for the most recent decade. emerging, despite the discharge of many In the UK, the loss of nature has been lasting for a long period. As early as 1970, British pollutants has been greatly reduced in wildlife had been persecuted and degraded for hundreds of years. recent decades. Pressures on Wildlife Hydrological change In six years, 1,000 hectares of British wetlands will be converted into artificial Between 1970 and 2018, the proportion surfaces. In 2018, only 35% of water bodies of the British population living in urban had ‘good’ or ‘high’ ecological conditions. areas increased by 8%. Between 1975 and 2017, the UK’s breeding The biodiversity value of existing urban water and wetland bird indicators dropped green spaces and natural areas rich in by 6%, but in the short term it increased wildlife resources may be affected. slightly, increasing by 3%. Woodland management Changing agricultural management had the biggest impact upon wildlife, with the great Despite the overall expansion of the area covered by woodland, woodland species are still majority of species’ populations downwards. The second most significant driver was declining. The British Woodland Bird indicator shows that it fell by 25% between 1970 and climate change, which is causing range and population change in sensitive species, 2017. alongside landscape-scale alteration to vulnerable habitats. Other important impacts Woodland specialists, such as Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, flycatchers and willow tits, included pollution, hydrological change, urbanisation and how woodlands are managed. have fallen most significantly. 12 13 Context Main Actors Context of Sheffield 1 https://app.bto.org/ The mapping of involved actors in Wildlife protection shows five main actors. Nonprofit birdtrends/species/ groups play an essential role, they lobby government for change, driving political actions. 1 willow tit State of Willow Tit It contains campaign groups and wildlife groups. Such as Yorkshire wildlife trust, Sheffield&Rotherham wildlife trust, RSPB an SBSG. They already have some agendas and ongoing projects related to Willow Tit, which respond and aim to address the main At present, the willow tit is the most existing pressures. threatened resident bird in the UK, and Businesses, Volunteers And Supporters invest and support Nonprofit. Communities and its population has fallen by 94% since residents engage in activities hold by Nonprofit and they will get benefit from the action 1970. Currently, the British population plans. of willow tit is estimated to be only 2,500 pairs, and most of their previous haunts in southeast and south England have been extinct. Main Pressures2 2 https://woodlandwild- Willow Tit has decreased by 47% in Sheffield, making it lifetoolkit.sylva.org.uk/ difficult to observe them in central Sheffield now. The main causes of degradation are the fragmentation and loss of habitat and lack of proper management3. In detail, due to the maturation of the young woodland and the increase in trunk diameter and closure of the canopy, the shadow area has increased. At the same time, loss of shrub layers and bushes, reduction of soil moisture, reduction of dead wood nesting sites, succession within respond or redevelopment of post-industrial sites, overgrazing of livestock, destruction of the structure of bushes, fragmentation of habitats, and prevention of movement through landscape are the underlying cause. 3 Sheffield State of 3 Woodland Birds main species in Sheffield who share the same habitats Nature Report 2018 These 10 woodland bird species have close connection and share the same 64% decrease 40% decrease 221% increase 238% increase Red-listed species habitats with Willow Tit. Protecting the 47% decrease Lost from habitats of Willow central Sheffield region Tit will also have a 73% increase Widespread 20% increase 79% occupancy 327% increase 335% increase 94% occupancy 86% occupancy positive impact on other species. 14 15 Problem Statement habitats? As development and urbanization continue to consume and destroy natural habitats, the main problems are divided into 3 1. Space Aspect different aspects. In the space aspect, lack of habitats which connectivity? are suitable for Willow Tit in central Sheffield as well as the 1) Lack of habitats which are suitable poor connectivity between habitats. In the social aspect, the conflicts? for Willow Tit in central Sheffield. conflicts between human and wildlife. In the management aspect, lack of consistency in data collection and ongoing 2) Poor connectivity between habitats. management resources. management? a group of people who wants to do investment 2. Social Aspect City Centre 3) Conflicts between human and wildlife. a group of people who is negotiating Woodland habitats and speaking for wildlife for Willow Tit 3.