How Can Botanic Gardens Grow Their Social Role?

How can BoTanic gardEnS grow THEir SociaL roLE?

Lessons from the communities in nature programme

Bernadette Lynch Edited by Sharon Telfer Acrossourprogrammes,weseektopilot andelitesectionsofsociety.Aworldthat Preface ideaswithpotentialtocreateandscale understandstherelevanceoftheirworkis positivechange,transformingsectors oneinwhichbotanicgardenswillprosper. and thecommunitiestheyserve.Often, this maybethroughthecollaborationof Understandingthetransformationthathas Over the last five years, we have been unexpectedpartners,eachwithsomething occurredinmuseumsandgalleriesinthe working with Botanic Gardens significanttooffertheother,andthe UK overthelasttwentyyearsasthesector Conservation International (BGCI) to explorationoflearningdevelopedinone haslearnedhowtoengagewithcommunities support botanic gardens to ‘grow their contextappliedelsewhere. beyondtheusualsuspects,werecogniseda social role’, addressing the needs of need–andanopportunity–forbotanic communities and plant conservation Ifthepressingenvironmentalissuesofour gardensandthebiodiversitytheyprotectto in a mutually beneficial approach. timehavebeencausedbypeople,not flourishalongsidetheirlocalcommunities. plants,thenpeople,notplants,must Wehadahunchthatdevelopingamore Why botanic gardens? Why a more providethesolutions;achallengewhen sociallyengagedrolecouldbeasgoodfor social role? morethanhalftheworld’spopulationlives botanicgardensasforthecommunitiesthey incitieswherethereistoolittlecontact seektoengageintheirwork,andhelpto ThepurposeoftheUKBranchofthe withnature,understandingofitsvalueor fosterthelong-termhealthofthe CalousteGulbenkianFoundationisto motivationtoprotectit. environment,whichunderpinsthe bringaboutlong-termimprovements wellbeingofusall. in wellbeing,particularlyforthemost Botanicgardensarepredominantlylocated vulnerable,bycreatingconnections inurbanareas.Theyprovideoasesof And,asthefindingsofthefollowingreport across boundaries(nationalborders, beautyandexpertise,andarecommitted show,soithasproved. Growingamore communities,disciplinesandsectors) in theirDNAtothepreservationof socialrolehashadanimpactonthe whichdeliversocial,culturaland biodiversity.Yetsoofteninthepastthey communitiesengaged,butithasalsobeen environmentalvalue. haveattractedvisitorsonlyfromnarrow inspirationalforthebotanicgardenstaff involved.Ithasdevelopedthebreadthof skillsandunderstandingofboth.Itcan provideaccesstonewgovernmentand other fundingstreams.Itcanprovidenew relevancetothesocialandpoliticalcontext inwhichthegardensoperatewiththe potentialtoputthematthecentreofvibrant, successfullocalcommunities.

Butdevelopingamoresocialroleisnotjust aboutsettingupinnovativeprojectswith localcommunities,it’saboutthinking throughtheimplicationsofputtingpeople at theveryheartofagarden’smissionand purpose.Organisationalchangeisnever easy;itisstillearlydaysforthesector,and therearerealchallengestoovercomefor BGCI,forthegardensandforthefunding communityinsupportinglong-termchange, buttheresultssofarsuggestthattheimpact ofdoingsowillbetransformational.

andrew Barnett director, calouste gulbenkian Foundation UK Branch

Front cover: Nature Play: Nature Conservation research explored the impact of unstructured play in the Demonstration Garden, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. Photo: RBGE.

Left: The ‘Evergreen Gardeners’ project for older people with high support needs at The Geffrye, Museum of the Home. Photo: Em Fitzgerald/ Geffrye Museum.

How can botanic gardens grow their social role? Reportpublishedin2015by CalousteGulbenkianFoundation UKBranch www.gulbenkian.org.uk Foreword

Botanicgardensexistinaworldthatis onsocialrelevancemeansfacinguptoa increasinglyprecariousforusall.The renewalofpurpose,onethatplacesthe collisionofsocialandenvironmental socialrolenotontheperipherybutatthe concernsispressinginbehindgardens’ heartofbotanicgardens. walls.Wholeculturesarebeinglostthrough climatechange.Acolleaguefromthe Thereismuchagreementonthe FlagstaffArboretum,Arizona,describes importanceofbotanicgardensactively beingonthefrontline,withveryrealloss assumingthissocialrole.Andyet,asa of speciesandlivelihoods. seniorstaffmemberofalargegarden remarked:“Thereisstillareluctanceat Facedwithatroubledworldtheycan seniorleveltoseeitasapriority.” no longeravoid,botanicgardensare at a crossroads,undergrowingpressure Forme,thisdichotomyisalltoofamiliar. toputsocialandenvironmental I comefromtheprofessionalmuseum responsibilityattheheartoftheir sector.Itisnosurprisetofindmuseums mission.Thismeansnotonlyconserving andbotanicgardenssharingagreatdealin plants–whichtheyhavetraditionally theirDNA,includingacertainreluctance donesowell–butengagingpeople. tochange,evenwhilechangeishappening allaroundthem.But,itseems,change Theshiftistowardscreatingopportunities theymust! forpeopleto do something,toworkwith botanicgardens–intowns,cities,countryside Suchareconsiderationmaymeansome –andhelpmakechangehappen.Thereis gardenseasingthegripofdefensiveand muchtocelebrateasgardenstakeupthis anxiousdefinitionsoftheirintrinsic value. challengeinnewandexcitingwaysinthe Itmeanstakinginspirationfromthose UK andacrosstheworld. leadingtheway.Itmeansembracinga renewalofpurposethatrunsrightthrough Butweneedmore. theorganisation.

Itwaswithinthiscontextthat Communities Likethemessageinastickofrock, in Nature wasconceived.Theprogramme inspiringengagementbecomesthe wasneveraboutdisconnectedshort-term responsibilityofallinthegarden.No ‘pilot’projects.Itwasaboutgardens memberofstaffisexempt,it’sineveryone’s embracingtheirsocialrole,workingwith jobdescription. morediversecommunitiesandestablishing standardsforacommunityofpractice. Thisisindeeda‘smallrevolutionin thinking’forbotanicgardens,tothebenefit Suchashifthashugeimplicationsfor ofusall.Ihope Communities in Nature will botanicgardens. openupdiscussionontheopportunities– andchallenges–thatlieahead.Theinterest Afewhavealreadytakenapowerfulstepin isthere–itnowneedssignificantnurturing, thatdirection,leadingthewaywithdynamic basedonstrong,clear-sightedleadership socialprogramming,workinginabroad andsupport,forittogrowrootsand rangeofpartnerships,positioningbotanic flourish.Inthissense,itisonlythe gardensrightattheheartofbothglobal beginningof Communities in Nature . debatesandactionsforchange.These gardenshaveunderstoodthatmovingahead dr Bernadette Lynch

Howcanbotanicgardensgrowtheirsocialrole? 1 Summary

Botanicgardensareundergrowing pressure toputsocialandenvironmental responsibilityattheheartoftheirmission. Communities in Nature testedwhether gardenscouldembracethissocialroleby workingwithmorediversecommunities.

BotanicGardensConservationInternational (BGCI)rantheprogrammebetween2010 and2015,withsupportfromtheCalouste GulbenkianFoundation(CGF).The programmedevelopedasitprogressedbut itsbroadaimswereto: l Increaseawarenessandwider understandingamongbotanicgardens abouttheirpotentialtoplayamoresocial roleandtheirmotivationandcapacityto doso. l Provideamodelforbotanicgardens worldwidetodeveloptheirsocialrole. l Developacommunityofpracticeto WHAT POSITIVE IMPACT DID WHAT CHALLENGES DID THE supportbotanicgardensinsuchwork. THE PROGRAMME HAVE? PROJECTS FACE? l Fosterinstitutionalchangeinanumber ofgardens. Participatinggardensengagedwithnew Despitethissuccess,discussionaboutthe audiences,includingfaithgroups,ethnic socialroleofabotanicgardenisstillinits l Increaseengagementbetweenbotanic minoritycommunities,disabledpeople, infancyandintervieweesidentifiedsome gardensandtheirlocalcommunities. peoplelivingwithdementia,vulnerable importantproblems. l Increaseparticipationinenvironmental youngadults,peoplewithsubstance issuesbydifferentsectorsofsociety. dependence,andthoselivingin Foremostwasthelackofintegrationofthe disadvantagedcommunities.Manygardens socialroleintogardens’mission,vision l Setupaninitiativethatwouldthrive foundthisarevelation.Foranumber, and strategy.Inthemain,gardenshave beyondCGFsupport. openingupdiscussiononorganisational addednewgroupstotheiraudienceprofile, andattitudinalchangewasthemain buthavenotfundamentallychangedas Theprogrammesupportedandevaluated impact. Somenowrecruitfromamore organisations. Manyfelttherewasstill pilotprojectsinsixUKbotanicgardens. diversepoolofvolunteersandengagewith muchtobedonetoengagesenior BCGIalsoproducedguidance,began a broaderrangeofvisitors.Somehaveset managementinthesocialrole.Somefelt buildingacommunityofpracticeand uppartnershipswithotherorganisations. all staffrolesneedcomprehensivereview. revieweditsactivitiessoastooffergreater supporttogardensgrowingtheirsocialrole. Communityparticipantscitedpersonal Mostprojectsfocusedonsocialinclusion, benefitsrangingfromincreasedself- notenvironmentalissues.Theytended confidence,togreaterconnectionwith to avoiddirectlytackling‘problematic’ nature,topracticalskillsandlearning. environmentalissues,suchasclimate change.Bringingtogethersocialand Staffandvolunteerswelcomedacquiring environmentalconcernsremainsa newskills,including:projectmanagement, challenge. communicationandteaching,flexibility, andworkingwithparticulargroups.For Lackofevidencehasbeencitedasone some,participationmarkedapersonal factorstoppingbotanicgardensfrom breakthrough,changingtheirperceptions. assuminggreatersocialresponsibility. Projectshadexcellentanecdotalfeedback fromparticipants,butevaluatinglonger termimpactremainsmuchharder.

2 Howcanbotanicgardensgrowtheirsocialrole? “Attitudinal change Summary is the single biggest benefit and starting to build bridges …”

Ben oliver, Learning and Participation Manager, Members of the Stroud Macular Disease Society at Westonbirt, The westonbirt, The national National Arboretum, display their arboretum handmade bird boxes. Photo: The Forestry Commission.

Someprojectshavegainedfollow-up WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN l Developdifferentfundingapproaches. supportbut‘lackoffunding’wasthemost NEXT? Short-termfundingunderliesmany commonreasonforprojectsnotcontinuing of thesechallenges.Networkingwith aftertheprogrammeended. Aprogrammereviewhasrecommended fundersisplainlyworthfosteringbutthe nextstepsforthesector,ledbyBGCI: sectorwouldalsobenefitfromashared visionandcohesivestrategy. l Establishacommunityofpractice.There WHAT ARE THE MAIN isclearlyagreatdealofinterestinthis, LESSONS FROM THE notjustintheUKbutinternationally. FIND OUT MORE PROJECTS? l Identifyandsupport‘hubgardens’.A ‘vanguard’groupofgardensalready Thissummarydrawsonaprogramme Themostsuccessfulprojectswereflexible, strongintheirsocialrolecouldoffer reviewbyDrBernadetteLynch, Botanic adaptingtowhatparticipantswanted,and othergardensinspirationandguidance. Gardens taking action for a better world: developedpartnershipswithorganisations Communities in Nature Five Year Review , l Setupgoodpracticestandards. andcommunitygroups.Buildinggood availableonlineat Establishingprinciplestowhichthe communityrelationshipsmeantallocating www.gulbenkian.org.uk. sectoradherescouldraisetheprofileof sufficienttime,staffandresources. suchwork,attractfundersandguide Formoredetailsabouttheprogramme, training. Learningfromrelatedsectors,like contact:LouisaHooper,Programme museums,alsohasgreatpotentialbenefit, l Developskillsandcapacities.Staffand Manager,EnvironmentatCGForthe forexample,sharingunderstandingof otherparticipantsneedsupportto EducationDepartmentatBGCI. workingwithdiversityandpublic developthenecessaryindividualskills engagement. andbuildasenseofcommonmission.

l Incorporatethe‘socialrole’ingardens’ Thereisaneedforbettercommunication mission.Itsexclusionwasfrequently notonlybetweengardensbutalsobetween citedasaprimaryroadblock.Butthereis eachgardenanditsstakeholdersand, alsoconcernthatgardensshouldnotbe crucially, within gardens. divertedfromtheiroriginalmission.A socialrolemustalsobedevelopedfroma garden’s existing expertiseandpurpose.

Howcanbotanicgardensgrowtheirsocialrole? 3 introduction

The Communities in Nature programme TheCGFandBGCIhavenowcommissioned was runbyBotanicGardensConservation areviewoftheprogrammeto: International(BGCI)between2010and l Assessitsimpactandoutcomessofar. 2015,withthesupportoftheCalouste GulbenkianFoundation(CGF).The l MakerecommendationsforBGCI,the purpose oftheprogrammewasto: botanicgardencommunityandpotential fundersonhowsuchworkcandevelop. l Promotethe‘socialrole’ofbotanic gardensinandbeyondtheUK. Thisreviewoftheprogramme’slessons l Encouragegardenstoexaminetheir was carriedoutbyDrBernadetteLynch. philosophy,values,goalsandpractices. It drawsonindividualprojectevaluations, interimandﬁnalprogrammeevaluations, l Realisegardens’potentialtocontribute interviewswithparticipantsand towardpositivesocialchangeandbroad stakeholders,anonlinesurveyof environmentalawareness. participatingstaﬀ,apeerreviewforum, and apresentationandworkshopatthe Bernadette Lynch speaking at 2015BGCIconferenceinStLouis,USA. the 2015 BGCI International Congress on Education in Botanic Gardens , Missouri. Photo: BGCI.

4 Howcanbotanicgardensgrowtheirsocialrole? overview of the programme

In2009,withCGFsupport,BGCI commissionedoriginalresearchfromthe UniversityofLeicesterResearchCentrefor MuseumsandGalleries(RCMG)intothe potentialforbotanicgardenstodevelopa moresociallyengagedrole.

Theirreport, Towards a New Social Purpose: Redefining the Role of Botanic Gardens (Dodd andJones,2010),identifiedsignificant potentialandsomepioneeringworkbut alsorealbarrierstochange.Thereport identifiedsevenkeyareasthatconcerned organisations: l Broadeningaudiences(audience development). l Enhancingrelevancetocommunities (meetingtheneedsofcommunities). l Education. l Researchthathassocio-economic impactlocallyandglobally. l Contributingtopublic(andpolitical) debatesontheenvironment. l Modellingsustainablebehaviour. l Activelychangingattitudesand behaviour. Broughton High School’s ‘More Choices, More Chances’ students learning how to grow l In2010,CGFsupportedBGCItosetupthe Increasegardens’motivationand their own food through the Communities in Nature programme.The capacitytodeveloptheirsocialrole. Edible Gardening project at the programmewasconceivedandledbyBGCI. Royal Botanic Garden l Developacommunityofpracticeto ItshighlyregardedEducationProgramme Edinburgh. Photo: BGCI. supportbotanicgardensinsuchwork. playsasignificantroleinsupporting botanicgardenstoengagewiththeirpublic. l Fosterinstitutionalchangeinanumber Theworkwasnotinitiallylaunchedasa ofgardens. “How easy it is to five-yearprogramme,butdeveloped l Increaseengagementbetweenbotanic organically,basedonthelessonslearned gardensandtheirlocalcommunities. begin removing fromeachphase.Originallytheprogramme intendedto: l Increaseparticipationinenvironmental barriers to issuesbydifferentsectorsofsociety. l Increaseawarenessandwider participation and understandingamongbotanicgardens l Setupaninitiativethatwouldthriveand abouttheirpotentialtoplayamore growbeyond2014andCGFsupport. how rewarding!” social roleinsociety. Sharon willoughby, Manager l Provideamodelforbotanicgardens Public Programmes, royal worldwidetodeveloptheirsocialrole. Botanic gardens, Victoria

Howcanbotanicgardensgrowtheirsocialrole? 5 CGFsupportenabledBGCIto: l Startbuildingacommunityofpractice, Boxstarts supportedbynewpoliciesand l Fund,supportandevaluatepilot approaches. projects insixbotanicgardensin the UK (seebelow). l Spreadandembedtheworkingardens beyondtheUK. l Produceguidanceandpromotional materials,includingonlinemedia, l Reviewitsgeneralactivities,helping advicemanuals,andpeer-reviewed facilitateanewﬁve-yearplanin2013, articlestoraiseacademiccredibility. whichincludesanobjectivetosupport gardensingrowingtheirsocialrole.

Participating gardens

Winterbourne House and Garden ran Royal Botanical Garden Edinburgh UrbanVeg,acommunity-basedvegetable (RBGE)waskeentoreachyoungpeople gardendesignedasatwo-wayexchange and neighbouringdeprivedcommunities. betweenthegardenandBirmingham’s ItsEdibleGardening projectfocusedon Islamiccommunities.Workshopsaddressed growing,preparingandsharinghealthy, waterconservation,sustainablegrowing sustainablefood.Participantsmaintained media,chemicalpollution,wildlife theirownplotsandattendedsessionson awarenessandreducingfoodmilesand topicssuchaswaterconservation,peat-free carbonfootprints. gardening,foodsecurityandbiodiversity. Eachgroupdesigneditsownprogramme Ness Botanic Gardens ,Universityof fromaseriesofoptions. Liverpool,waskeentoengagewithstudents fromdisadvantagedbackgroundsandran Bristol Community Plant Collection, science-focusedworkshopsforYears7and Bristol Zoo Gardens (BZG) wantedto 10.Studentsgrewvegetablesandlearnt involvenewaudiencesinplantconservation aboutscientificconcepts,suchas andbreakdownbarriersbybringingpeople photosynthesisandclimatechange. together.Recruitsfromprimaryschoolsin deprivedareas,acommunitygardening Westonbirt, The National Arboretum , group,shelteredhousingandacarehome workedwiththreegroupsunder- forpeoplewithdementiagrewcalendula representedamongexistingvisitors plantsattheirownsitesandcollectedseed. throughitsHiddenVoicesproject:adults Asaresult,BZGwasabletoestablishthe facingsubstancedependence,SouthAsian UK’sfirsteverdispersednational womenwhohavefaceddomesticabuse, collection. and olderpeoplewithMacularDisease. Groupscarriedoutpracticalconservation, *** contributedtoanaudiotrailforvisually impairedvisitors,andproducedarecipe Thesegardensranpilotprojects. Other bookandphotographyexhibition. gardenscontributedtoBGCI’smanualsfor gardens: Communities in Nature (2013)and University of Leicester Botanic Garden Caring for your Community (2015). wantedtoincreasetheircapacityfor workingwithdisabledpeople.TheirFeel CGFalsosupportedthe The Geffrye, Greenprojectworkedinpartnershipwith Museum of the Home ‘Evergreen Mosaic,whichcoordinatesservicesfor Gardeners’projectforisolatedand disabledadults.Mosaictrainedstaffand vulnerableolderadultsandtheircarers, helpedplanactivitiesandselectcommunity and‘NaturePlay’,anactionresearchproject groupstoworkwith.Thegardenhas foryoungchildrenatthe Royal Botanic increasedaccessibilitybyimprovingpaths, Garden Edinburgh .Theseprojectswere toiletsandinformationdisplays. notformallypartofthe Communities in Nature programme,butexploredthesame issuesandprovidevaluablelessons.The National Botanic Garden of Wales was alsoinvolvedinprogrammediscussions.

6 Howcanbotanicgardensgrowtheirsocialrole? Left: Urban Veg at Winterbourne House and Garden, University of Birmingham. Photo: Winterbourne House and Garden.

Below: Year 7 pupils going pond dipping at Ness Botanic Garden, University of Liverpool. Photo: NBG.

Howcanbotanicgardensgrowtheirsocialrole? 7 what positive impact did the programme have?

Overall,thoseparticipatingwerevery positiveabouttheprogrammeasanattempt todevelopacohesivestrategyforbotanic gardens’socialrole.Thepilotprojectshave learnedhowto: l Approach,developandmaintain relationshipswithdiﬀerentcommunity groups. l Supportstaﬀtodelivertheirprojects, developnewskillsandstarttoembed thisworkwithintheirmission. l Begintoaccommodatetheneedsof individualgroups.

Theyhavealsobeenabletoprovideeﬀective casestudiesforotherstolearnfromand beginimplementingattheirsites.

Organisational change

Anumberofparticipantssawtheprimary beneﬁtasopeningupadiscussionon organisationalchange.Somefeltthe programmewasabreakthroughin providingtestcasesofsocialprogrammes of varyingscope:

Itwasacatalystforchange. Lee Hale, Head of Winterbourne House and Garden

Forsomegardens,thelegacyoftheirproject Bristol Drugs Project participants writing hasbeenparticularlypositive: tree poems at Westonbirt, The National Arboretum. Photo: Forestry Commission.

Attitudinalchangeisthesinglebiggest beneﬁtandstartingtobuildbridgeswith RoyalBotanicGardenEdinburghalso TheimpactatBristolZooGardenshasbeen thesecommunities … Isupposeit’sgiving reportedchangingattitudes: similarlypositive: up alevelofcontrolandIthinkthat’svery positive…Weare100%committedever Itcertainlyhelpedtoembed‘community’ Thewholeorganisationhaschanged…as since.Wenowhaveacommunityvolunteer in theagendaforgovernanceappearingin evidencedbythefactthattheorganisation teamthatworksspeciﬁcallyonthese the corporateplan/strategicplan.Ithasn’t foundsomeresourcestocontinuetorunthe communityprogrammes…Ithasbecome appearedformallybefore. project(atabasiclevel)afterwards.…It’s a specialityofours.Thelegacyisthatwe Ian Edwards, Head of Exhibitions, Royal Botanic strengthenedourlinkswithourpartner are stillabletodeliver.Anditchanged Garden Edinburgh organisations[BristolinBloom/Plant our mindset. Heritage/BGCI],alsoalonglistofcommunity Ben Oliver, Learning and Participation Manager, partners.…Thepositivefeedbackfrom Westonbirt, The National Arboretum peopleinvolvedamazedme.Wegotmassive presscoverageinternationally.Wehad about 300peopleattendtheend-of-year get -together.Wehavemaintainedour community partners. Edwin Mole, Head of Horticulture, Bristol Zoo Gardens

8 Howcanbotanicgardensgrowtheirsocialrole? Working with new audiences TheGeffryeMuseumhadpreviouslyworked “It demonstrated to and vulnerable groups witholderpeople,but: what positive impact did the gardens themselves that Mostpilotprojectschosetofocuson …theytendedtobequiteactiveretiredbut the socialinclusionelementratherthan notvulnerableandisolatedolderpeople.We they could engage more programme have? environmentalissues.Manyfoundthis arenowexpandingtoincludemoreisolated meaningfully with their a revelation.Thoseinvolvedinprojects olderpeoplevia‘ContacttheElderly’. includedfaithgroups,peoplefromethnic Laura Bedford, Access and Public Programmes local communities …” minoritycommunities,disabledpeopleand Manager, The Geffrye, Museum of the Home peoplewithspecialneeds,peopleliving Julia willison, Head of content withdementia,vulnerableyoungadults, Sheaddsthattheyarenowinterestedin and Learning, royal Botanic peoplewithdrugandalcoholdependence, expandingtoworkwithdifferentaudiences, gardens, Kew andthoselivingindisadvantaged forexample,“localfamilieswholiveinflats communities. intermsofgrowingfoodandhealthyeating”.

Overall,participatinggardensfelttheyhad engagedwithnewaudiences,somevery challengingforthegardensconcerned. Somegardenswerenowrecruitingnew Students from the Cabot Primary volunteersfrommorediversegroups.Some School growing calendula for the Bristol Community Plant hadestablishednewpartnershipswith Collection, Bristol Zoo Gardens. otherorganisations.Forthesegardens, Photo: Jessica Johns. Communities in Nature provedthat‘social inclusion’workthatoﬀersactivitiestonew audiencesisdo-able,withtherightwilland imagination.JuliaWillisoninstigatedthe programmewhilebasedatBGCI.Nowat Kew,shefeelstheprogramme:

…demonstratedtogardensthemselvesthat theycouldengagemoremeaningfullywith theirlocalcommunities–thatpeople[the projectparticipants]werereallyinterested in theworkofbotanicgardens. Julia Willison, Head of Content and Learning, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (formerly Director of Education at BGCI)

Allthepilotprojectswantedtoreachoutto thosewhowerenotalreadyregularvisitors, inparticular,disadvantagedgroups.

Westonbirtislikeanumberofbotanic gardensinitsvisitorproﬁles.It’simproving butithasawaytogotoengagewiththe broadestcommunity.Itstrugglestoattract diverseaudiences. Ben Oliver, Learning and Participation Manager, Westonbirt, The National Arboretum

ThegardenatLeicesterworkedwiththe AutismOutreachService,usinggardensfor gardeningallotmentsandhands-onworkwith teenagersfromdisadvantagedbackgrounds. TheystillhavetheAutismOutreachgroupand plantocontinueworkingwithit:

Itgaveusthefundingtoworkwithspecial needsgroupsand…alevertogetfuture fundingforfurtherwork.Thegroupshad a greattimewithverygoodreviews. Ruth Godfrey, Education Oﬃcer, University of Leicester Botanic Garden

Howcanbotanicgardensgrowtheirsocialrole? 9 “I like it when I’ve got mud RoyalBotanicGardenEdinburghhasalso IlikeitwhenI’vegotmudonmyhands, seenitsrelationshipsexpand: I wantittobereal...Idon’twantitto on my hands, I want it to be theory. Wenowhavecommunitiesworkingwith Urban Veg participant, Winterbourne (quoted in be real ... I don’t want it to us whodidn’tbefore,someregularlyvia BGCI/RCMG, 2011) be theory.” volunteeringoreveninonecasethrough takingupanapprenticeship. Thenaturalhighfromthatdaygotmethrough Urban Veg participant, winterbourne Ian Edwards, Head of Exhibitions, Royal Botanic thewholeweekend[withoutusingdrugs], Garden Edinburgh whichIwasworriedabout. Bristol Drugs Project participant, Westonbirt (quoted in Inaddition,theprogrammeinspiredother Vergou and Willison, 2013) gardens,whosestaﬀspokeaboutitsimpact ontheirpractice: Therewerealsopracticalimpactsinterms ofmoreinclusiveaccess;forexample,some Howeasyitistobeginremovingbarriersto gardensintroducedlabellingindiﬀerent participationandhowrewarding! languages,othersprovidedbetterfacilities Sharon Willoughby, Manager Public Programmes, fordisabledpeople. Royal Botanic Gardens, Victoria

Ithinkit’sawonderfulprojectandreally Impact for staff and volunteers importanttohighlightthedifferentroles a botanicgardencanplayfordifferent BGCIofferedstafftraininginproject audiences. managementandcreativecommunity Bronwen Richards, Schools Education Officer, engagement.Someparticipantsalso Cambridge University Botanic Garden receivedtrainingfromtheircommunity partners,withprojectsthenproviding practicalexperienceofcommunityworking Benefits for participants (VergouandWillison,2013).

l Increasedpersonalconﬁdence; It’sthebestthingI’vedoneinmy feeling trusted;theopportunityto horticulturalcareer–Idon’tthinkthat interactwithothervisitorsfrom I will everdoanythingthatwilltopit. diﬀerentbackgrounds;thechanceto Edwin Mole, Head of Horticulture, Bristol Zoo Gardens be involvedincreativeprojects.

l Newpracticalskills;theopportunityto Othersnotedachangeintheirownattitudes fulfilimportantelementsoftheirfaith andperceptions: throughpracticalwork;anewand Feel Green project horticulture workshops for people with stimulatingenvironmentinwhichto WhenIwasworkingwiththedrug-users disabilities at the University of learn;bringingpeopletogetherin I wasapprehensivebutthesewere Leicester Botanic Garden. coordinatedlearning. misconceptions.They’repeople,justlikeme. Photo: Janet Clitheroe. Volunteer, Westonbirt, The National Arboretum l Offeringfreshair,greenspaceand exercise;healthyeatingandgardening. Gardenstaffwelcomedacquiringnewskills. Theseincluded:projectmanagement l Connectiontotheseasons;awarenessof (includingtimemanagementand nature;agreaterglobalperspective multitasking),evaluation,communication throughgardens’collections. skills,publicspeaking,teachingskills, teamwork,beingflexible,activelistening, andskillsforworkingwithparticular groups.Theirexisting‘soft’skillswere also important;communityparticipants commendedthefriendlyandapproachable staff(VergouandWillison,2013).

10 Howcanbotanicgardensgrowtheirsocialrole? RoyalBotanicGardenEdinburghhasalso IlikeitwhenI’vegotmudonmyhands, seenitsrelationshipsexpand: I wantittobereal...Idon’twantitto be theory. what challenges did the Wenowhavecommunitiesworkingwith Urban Veg participant, Winterbourne (quoted in us whodidn’tbefore,someregularlyvia BGCI/RCMG, 2011) volunteeringoreveninonecasethrough programme face? takingupanapprenticeship. Thenaturalhighfromthatdaygotmethrough Ian Edwards, Head of Exhibitions, Royal Botanic thewholeweekend[withoutusingdrugs], Garden Edinburgh whichIwasworriedabout. Bristol Drugs Project participant, Westonbirt (quoted in Inaddition,theprogrammeinspiredother Vergou and Willison, 2013) gardens,whosestaﬀspokeaboutitsimpact ontheirpractice: Therewerealsopracticalimpactsinterms ofmoreinclusiveaccess;forexample,some Howeasyitistobeginremovingbarriersto gardensintroducedlabellingindiﬀerent participationandhowrewarding! languages,othersprovidedbetterfacilities Sharon Willoughby, Manager Public Programmes, fordisabledpeople. Royal Botanic Gardens, Victoria

Theprogrammeevaluationidentifieda Manystaffmemberscommentedonthe rangeofpersonalbenefitsforthosetaking impact Communities in Nature hadontheir part(seeVergouandWillison,2013).These ownpractice.Forsome,itmarkeda included: personalbreakthrough: l Increasedpersonalconfidence; It’sthebestthingI’vedoneinmy feeling trusted;theopportunityto horticulturalcareer–Idon’tthinkthat interactwithothervisitorsfrom I will everdoanythingthatwilltopit. differentbackgrounds;thechanceto Edwin Mole, Head of Horticulture, Bristol Zoo Gardens be involvedincreativeprojects. l Newpracticalskills;theopportunityto Othersnotedachangeintheirownattitudes fulfilimportantelementsoftheirfaith andperceptions: throughpracticalwork;anewand Visitors from Pilton stimulatingenvironmentinwhichto WhenIwasworkingwiththedrug-users Community Health Project learn;bringingpeopletogetherin I wasapprehensivebutthesewere enjoy Edible Gardening at Despitetheconsiderablesuccessofthese l Avoidanceofpotentially‘problematic’ coordinatedlearning. misconceptions.They’repeople,justlikeme. the Royal Botanic Garden projects,discussionaboutthesocialrole environmentalissues,suchasclimate Volunteer, Westonbirt, The National Arboretum Edinburgh. Photo: RBGE. of abotanicgardenisstillinitsinfancy. change. l Offeringfreshair,greenspaceand Participantsandotherinterviewees l Short-termnatureoftheprojects,which exercise;healthyeatingandgardening. Gardenstaffwelcomedacquiringnewskills. identifiedsomeimportantproblemareas. weredependentuponexternalproject Theseincluded:projectmanagement Somemaybeduetomisunderstandings funding. l Connectiontotheseasons;awarenessof (includingtimemanagementand aboutthe‘pilot-project’natureofthe nature;agreaterglobalperspective multitasking),evaluation,communication programme.Othersaremoredeep-seated. throughgardens’collections. skills,publicspeaking,teachingskills, Theseinclude: Inthemain,gardenshavesuccessfully teamwork,beingflexible,activelistening, addednewgroupstotheiraudienceprofile, l Lackofintegrationofthesocialroleinto andskillsforworkingwithparticular buthavenotfundamentallychangedas themission,visionandstrategyofthe groups.Theirexisting‘soft’skillswere organisations. gardensasawhole. also important;communityparticipants commendedthefriendlyandapproachable l Limitedinvolvementbydirectorsand staff(VergouandWillison,2013). seniormanagementandscientific/ horticulturalstaff(withsomenotable exceptions).

Howcanbotanicgardensgrowtheirsocialrole? 11 Organisational and staff attitudes

Senior staff

Intervieweesfelttherewasstillmuchtobe donetoengageseniormanagementinthe garden’ssocialrole. Asoneputit:“Atleast halfofthebattlehasbeenconvincing peopleinmanagementthatitwillbring beneﬁttothem.”Lackingclearleadership leftsomestaﬀfeelingadrift :

Itfeltlikeweneededaleadership programme.…Noneofthemsawitasbeing whattheywereabout.Quitesmall-scalelocal projects–that’swhattheyseeasthe‘legacy’. There’sal ackofunderstanding.[Some directors]thoughtthatitwasjustactivities ledbyeducation…It’snotembeddedinthe organisation. Anonymous staﬀ member

Onesaid:

Thefactistheythoughttheyweredoingsome nicecommunityengagementworkandthey foundtherewereorganisationalimplications. Anonymous staﬀ member

Anothernoted:

Director-levelsupportisessentialfor systemicchange.Theshiftandconversation needstohappenatmultiplelevelsbutthe directorisresponsibleformakingsureall departmentsareinvolvedandiskeyto ensuringsupportandcommunication. Anonymous staﬀ member

ManylookedtoBGCItotaketheleadin addressingthislackofleadership(see Recommendations).

Somealsofeltthatthereneedstobea wider discussionontheroleofbotanic gardenstoday:

BGCIneedstohaveamuchbigger conversationatdirectorlevel,notjustabout projectsbutwhatbotanicgardens are ,aswell asaseriesofdebatesandlectures,tolink withleadershipprogrammesandchange management...toworkwithdirectorsand specialiststafftoshakeupnotionsofgardens andwhatscienceisinthe21stcentury. Anonymous staff member The evaluation of the Evergreen Gardeners project found that Anevaluationoftheearlierprojectsfound recognisingthebenefitsofbeingpartofa some participants’ physical that“…thevaluesandaspirationsemerged widerprogrammeonsocialinclusionand dexterity had improved as well mostlyfromstaffontheground,abottom- acknowledgingthepositiveimpactof as their emotional wellbeing. Photo: Em Fitzgerald/Geffrye upratherthantop-down,phenomenon” BGCI’sorganisationalworkshops(Vergou Museum. (BGCI/RCMG,2011).However,thingsdid andWillison,2013). shift.Thelaterevaluationfounddirectors

12 Howcanbotanicgardensgrowtheirsocialrole? Other staff “BGCI needs to Theevaluationofthefirstprojectsnoted have a much bigger thatthesedidnottendtoinvolveeducation orlearningstaff,eventhoughthey conversation at director were likelytohavetherelevantskills level … as well as a (BGCI/RCMG,2011) . Whereeducation staff wereinvolved,however,therewasa series of debates and dangerthat theprojectswereseenastheir soleresponsibility. lectures, to link with

OftenthediscussionsarenotatDirector leadership programmes level,they’reonlyateducationlevel. and change Paul Cook, formerly at Ness Botanic Gardens, University of Liverpool management.”

Someeducationstaffareonpart-timeor anonymous staff member temporarycontracts.Smallworkforcesalso remainanissue.Thiswaspickedupbythe initial2010review(DoddandJones,2010) andreinforcedinthe2015interviews: frequentlyfeltunder-skilledintheareas Weareinanideallocationwithamassive of diversity,communityengagementand possibleaudience.Whatwedon’thaveis participation,havinghadlittleprevious the staff. experienceofthistypeofwork.Even Lee Hale, Head of Winterbourne House and Garden discussingsuchconcernswasoftennew to theirtraditionalwaysofworking. Participatingstaffandotherinterviewees notedthat(againwithsomenoticeable Somealsoexpressedconcernaboutrushing exceptions)‘specialist’(scientificand intoworkingwithmorediverseandhard- horticultural)staffhadtendednottoget to-reachaudienceswithoutadequate involvedwiththeprogramme.Feedback discussionandpreparation,ideallyfrom showedthesestaffwereoftenthemost othersmoreexperienced,bothinandout concernedaboutwhethernewandmore of thesector.Acommentatorinterviewed diversecommunitygroupscomingintothe as partofthisevaluationalsostressed gardenswoulddisrupttheir‘regular’work. this point: Manynotdirectlyinvolvedremainedlargely unawareofanddisconnectedfromthe …thereneedstobemoreopen,engaged projects. discussionaboutthisworkingardens.Before grabbingagrouptoworkwith,gardensneed Somefeltamorecomprehensivereviewof tore-framehowtodothisworkandwork staffrolesinbotanicgardensisnecessary,if powerfullywithacademics,activistgroupsetc. gardensaretomeettheirsocialrole.One Dawn Sanders, academic specialist in botanic gardens, feltthepriorityshouldbeto: University of Gothenburg

…ensurethateverydepartment/staff Thereisevidentlyscopefordiscussion memberrelatessomeformofsocial aboutleadershipandanewrolefor importancetotheirwork,betheyfinance/ specialiststaff(seeRecommendations). horticulture/engagement.Ideallyeveryone Nevertheless,thereisagreatdealof shouldhavesomeformofcontactwiththe potentialonwhichtobuild,especially garden’ssocialprovision. with youngerstaff: Anonymous staff member There’sanewgenerationcomingthrough Thepeerreviewforum’sworldcafé who arehiringpeoplenotscientists;they discussionnotedaneedtobreakawayfrom are botanistsbutwithpeopleskills. traditionaltrainingpathways;forexample, Ian Edwards, Head of Exhibitions, Royal Botanic horticulturaliststendtobetrainedinaway Garden Edinburgh thatdoesn’talwaystranslatetosocially engagedwork. …theseadvocatesinembryoarealreadyto be foundamongyoungbotanicgardenstaff, Manystaffwereveryopenandhonest intheearlystagesoftheircareers.Sotheir about theinsecuritytheyexperiencedin involvementisessential. diversifyingtheiraudience.Theysaidthey BGCI/RCMG, 2011

Howcanbotanicgardensgrowtheirsocialrole? 13 “It’s the first time I have Combining environmental Therewasmuchagreementthat concerns and social engagement environmentalissuesemerge‘organically’ not thought about heroin whenyouengagepeoplepractically: Bringingtogetherboththesocialand in the day.” environmentalaimsoftheprogrammealso Reconnectingpeoplewithnatureisthe Bristol drug User Project, participant, remainsachallenge.Addressingtough first step.It’shardtoengagepeopleon westonbirt issuesofenvironmentalconcernwasnot environmentalissuesifyouonlyhavea foremostontheagendaforalltheprojects: one -offevent,butmorefeasibleoverlonger- termengagement.Givingpeoplehopeand Ithinkcreatingopportunitiesforpeople empoweringthemtomakechangeandgiving to continuetogardencreatesasenseof themopportunitiestodosoarekey.But Volunteers wellbeing.Wedidtoacertaindegreelookat botanicgardenshavetoreachout,gotowhere theenvironmentbutitwasverysecondary. peopleare,workouthowtotakethelearning Tobeopentodevelopingsocialrelations, [Wearenowinterestedin]howthe intoanewplace! gardensneedtoreflectontheseperceptions environmentalimpactcouldbestronger– Anonymous staff member withstaff and volunteers.Volunteerscould but notignoringthewellbeingaspect,which alsobeapprehensiveabouttheprogramme. isveryhighontheagendaeverywhere,with Staffmembershadmanytipsonintroducing Onedirectorspokeof: moreknowledgeandopportunitiesto environmentalthemesfrompartnering measureitsimpact. withorganisationsalreadysuccessfully Overcomingthenervousnessofvolunteers Laura Bedford, Access and Public Programmes engagingonenvironmentalissues,for thatworkingwiththeDrugsProjectwasnot Manager, The Geffrye, Museum of the Home example,TheConservationVolunteersand goingtomeansyringesallovertheplace… theWildlifeTrustsintheUK,toframingthe [seeing]thetransformationfromscepticism Toaddressthis,BGCI’smanual, Caring issuesintermsofthingspeoplealreadycare andnervousness… for your Community , explicitlyhighlights aboutandareinterestedin.Oneexampleis Simon Toomer, Director, Westonbirt, The National projectswhichhaveafocusonthe theBristolZooGardenscalendulaproject: Arboretum environmentaswellasthosewhich calendulagrowswildinAfrica,soa encompassedsocialissues(Derewnicka conversationaboutclimatechangein Likemanyinstitutionswithalonghistory, et al.,2015). Africa arosenaturally. botanicgardenshavealongstanding issue ofdiversityinrecruitingstaffand Therewassomefearofraisingdifficult Internationalgardenswerealsoseenas volunteers.Asonestaffmembersaid,there environmentalsubjectmatterwiththe offeringmuchinspiration.Interviewees isaneedto“breakthemouldofwhois public.Manystafffeltthepublicwantto oftencitedChicago,inparticular,forits volunteering!”Onerecurringsuggestion cometobotanicgardensfora‘nicedayout’. partnershipsandenvironmentalactivism wastodiversifythevolunteerbasethrough Theydon’twanttobedisturbedbytalkof withpeopleinthecity.Manystaffmembers strategicpartnerships: environmentalcrises.Butothers saidthey’dlikemorecontactwith challenged this: internationalcolleaguesonthis.The What’snotneededarevastquantitiesof Communities in Nature World Map showcases money,justadifferentwayofthinking,for Gardenscanunderestimatetheappetitefor casestudiesfromgardensaroundtheworld example[gardens]usevolunteersanyway, engagementonenvironmentalissues… andincludescontactinformation.Through but thequestionis,whichvolunteersand Communitygroupswantknowledge.They developingthisfurther,BGCIhopesto couldstrategicpartnershipshelpwiththis? enjoydevelopingexpertiseandthroughthis facilitatethisinternationaldialogue. Jocelyn Dodd, Director, Research Centre for Museums canlearnaboutenvironmentalissues.Embed and Galleries, University of Leicester ideasby‘stealth’,i.e.oncepeopleareengaged throughdoingthingsthatinterestthem. Manyhighlightedtheneedtocarryon Julia Willison, Head of Content and Learning, Royal buildingonsuccess: Botanic Gardens, Kew

Theroleofvolunteeringisa big priorityfor us.Wenowhave270volunteers.Manyof themwouldbeindangerofexclusion.…[We are]diversifyingourvolunteeringbaseto provideworkexperienceforyoungpeopleto helpthemdecidewhattheywanttodoinlife. Simon Toomer, Director, Westonbirt, The National Arboretum

14 Howcanbotanicgardensgrowtheirsocialrole? BGCI has developed a Somestaﬀwerealsoconfusedabout range of resources to the roleofevaluation.Theysawitasa support gardens in ‘growing their social role’ judgementratherthanreﬂectionthatcould and to provide evidence leadtoimprovement(BGCI/RCMG,2011). of the impact of this work. Othersfeltitexcessiveforthesizeofthe projectandthetimetheyhadavailable.

Therewasfarmorereportingthanwewere everledtounderstand.Itwassummerterm, whichmadeitextradiﬃcultintermsof capacity.Nobodyhadsaidhowmuch reportingforsolittlemoney…Didn’thave timetodoitproperly. Ruth Godfrey, Education Oﬃcer, University of Leicester Botanic Garden

ParticipantsattheWorldCafébacked this up:

Theevidence-baseiscrucial–needtobeable toproveyourimpactbutoftenthiscancome outevenmoreexpensivethandoingthe actualworksoit’saCatch-22. World Café participant

Othershighlightedtheneedforamore imaginativeapproachtoevaluation:

Weneedtogetoﬀsolelyeconometric measures!Weneedtolearnhowtobetter articulateculturalheritagevaluesand inspiration. Gail Bromley, independent consultant (formerly Head of Community Engagement and Volunteering, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew)

Evaluating impact Butevaluationiscrucialforattracting funding,promotingawarenessand Theoriginalresearchidentifiedlackof convincingseniormanagement(whooften evidenceofimpactasafactorinhibiting havescientificbackgrounds)ofthevalidity botanicgardensfromassuminggreater oftheseprojects.BGCIEducationarevery socialresponsibility(DoddandJones, awareofthisandhave: 2010).Projectsdidhaveexcellentanecdotal l Publishedresultsofpilotprojectsin feedbackfromparticipants: peer-reviewedjournals,suchas Environmental Education Research . It’sthefirsttimeIhavenotthoughtabout heroinintheday. l Compiledmanuals( Communities in Bristol Drug User Project, participant, Westonbirt Nature and Caring for your Community) , collectingevidenceofthediversityof Butevaluatinglong-termimpactremained socialinclusionworkinbotanicgardens hard.Difficultiesincluded: aroundtheworld;thisiscurrentlybeing usedforbothdisseminationand l Havingdifferentparticipants fundraising. throughout. l Createdthe Communities in Nature World l Issuesaroundlanguageandtranslation. Map ofcommunityprojectsacrossthe l Lowliteracy,makingtraditionalmethods world,includingcasestudiesfromthe likeform-fillingproblematic. manuals.

l Groupsnotwantingtogivecritical feedback,astheyweresogratefulfor beingincluded.

Howcanbotanicgardensgrowtheirsocialrole? 15 Building a community Funding and long-term TherecanbeaCatch-22:whenthegarden’s of practice sustainability socialroledependsonshort-term,external projectfunding,workisguaranteedto Developingacommunityofpracticeon Theseprojectswerepilots,deliberately remainperipheral,endingoncefunding botanicgardens’socialrolewasoneofthe designedtotestnewwaysofworking. stops.Thus,fundingcaninadvertently programme’skeyobjectives.Butithad Fundingwasnotintendedtoprovide contributetothemarginalisationofsuch mixedsuccess. ongoingsupport. Someprojectshave work. successfullyfoundfundingtocontinue Theinitialnetworkwasinspiringbutitwas their workfromothersources: Somerespondentsalsofeltagrowing notfollowedthrough.Theconnectionhas preoccupationwiththemarketplacerisks l WestonbirthasreceivedHeritageLottery not continued–thatwouldbesomething removinggardensfurtherfromdiverse FundingtoexpandtheDrugsProject very useful. audiences(whomaynotbeabletoafford Partnership,andisextendingthe Ben Oliver, Learning and Participation Manager, entrancefeesandcommercialproductsand approachtootherisolatedgroups. Westonbirt, The National Arboretum services).Othersectorsaresuccessfully l RGBEhasalsosecuredfollow-up confrontingthis: Staffparticipantsinterviewedcalledfora fundingfromtheHeritageLotteryFund strengthenedcommunityofpractice,ledby tofurtherembeditswork.Itrunsan Thereisapotentialtensionbetween gardensalreadystronginthisarea,with outreachprogrammeand several commercialandcommunityengagementbut morededicatedconferences,seminars, communitygroupsnowhaveplotsat itdoesn’thavetobeanissue.Forexample, training,mentoring,exchanges,and the garden. zoosthatdobotharealsoattractinglower placementsrelatedtothegarden’ssocial incomegroups. l BristolZooGardens continuestogrow role. Anonymous senior garden manager its socialrolethroughconservationand educationprojectsandinvolvementin Youcanfeelveryisolatedifyoudon’tfeelpart Forothers,asocialroleissimplynotan cityactivitiessuchastheBristolFestival ofacommunity. optionalextra: forNature. Paul Cook, formerly Ness Botanic Gardens, University of Liverpool l TherelatedGeffryeMuseumprojecthas It’snotan‘add-on’here,it’sfranklytheonly alsogainedanotherthreeyears’funding waywekeepgoing. Acommunityofpracticealsoaddsto fromtheCityBridgeTrust. Rosie Plummer, Garden Director, National Botanic evidenceforfunders: Garden of Wales But‘lackoffunding’wasthemostcommon Ithinkacommunityofpracticeisvery reasonforprojectsnotcontinuing. TheRecommendationssectionlooksat importantasitgivesusaccesstoevidence somewaysoftacklingfundingchallenges. andexamplesforwhenwearetalkingto organisationswemaywishtoworkwith. Whenwedidthe[HeritageLotteryFund] ActivityPlan,forexample,wewereableto say wehaveseenthisworkinotherplaces. Ben Oliver, Learning and Participation Manager, Westonbirt, The National Arboretum

Tightﬁnancesandtimepressures,however, canmakeattendingconferencesand similarmeetingsdiﬃcult:

IdidfeelIbeneﬁtedwhenIwas[attending], but…alsotoobusydelivering.[Acommunity ofpractice]hastobe really useful. Ruth Godfrey, Education Oﬃcer, University of Leicester Botanic Garden

Hillcrest Primary School pupils participated in the Bristol Community Plant Project, Bristol Zoo Gardens. Photo: BZG.

16 Howcanbotanicgardensgrowtheirsocialrole? Lessons from the programme

Bristol Drugs Project clients together with regular volunteers Responding to communities purpose:they“didnotseetheirsocialrole coppicing the laurel shelterbelt asabilateralorconsultativeprocess” at Westonbirt, The National Theﬁrstphaseevaluationconcludedthat: (BGCI/RCMG,2011). BOX2starts: Arboretum. Photo: Forestry Commission. “Forsocialprojectstowork,youhaveto understandwhatthepeopleyouaretrying toworkwithwanttodoandnotjustwhat youwanttodelivertothem”(BGCI/RCMG, Principles of community engagement 2011).Somestaﬀclearlyrecognisedthis:

Attimesitisimportanttostandbackand let thegroupleadermanagepartoftheday. Capability building: Haveparticipants Rooted in local needs: Hasthe As gatekeepersfortheirorganisation,they /localcommunitiesidentifiedthe Communityledtheidentificationof maybethebestpersontocommunicate capabilitiestheyneed;hasthebotanic issuesandrequirements? aspectsoftheprogrammetotheparticipants. gardenidentifiedthecapabilitiesitneeds Chris Meakin, Education Supervisor, Westonbirt, The tomeettheserequirements? Reflection: Istherecontinuousdialogue, National Arboretum (quotedinVergouandWillison, debateandreviewofthedynamicsofthe 2013) Community agency: Isthecommunity relationshipbetweenthepublicand centrallyinvolvedinthedevelopment, the organisation,astherelationship Others,however,triedtosecond-guessor implementationandreviewof develops?Hastherelationshipdeveloped fitparticipantsintoexistingprojectsand programmes? toenablemoreeffectivepartnership? didnotattempttofindoutwhatpeople reallywantedorneeded.Again,senior managementcouldmisunderstandthe

Howcanbotanicgardensgrowtheirsocialrole? 17 Themostsuccessfulprojectswerethose Throughconsultation,theprojectchanged Anotherfactorisrunningmultiple thatwereflexibleandadaptedtowhat fromamodelofone-way‘teaching’toone sessionsratherthanone-offevents: participantswanted.AtWestonbirt,staff’s ofparticipatorylearning,ashiftfrom preconceptionsabouttheprojectshiftedas ‘passivebeneficiary’to‘activeagent’forthe The Communities in Nature projectreally theprojectdeveloped,directlyinfluenced individualsandgroupsinvolved: allowedustospendalotoftimetodevelop bytheviewsandinterestsoftheproject staffandvolunteersovermulti-visitsessions, participants: Previouslythemodelwasquitepassive–we breakingdownbarriers. designedaprogrammeforthecurriculum. Ben Oliver, Learning and Participation Manager, Wewantedtobeabletotalkabouttree Butwiththecommunitysideofthingswe Westonbirt, The National Arboretum conservationandclimatechangebut[it wentoutintothecommunitytofindoutwhat becameclear]thisisnotnecessarilywhat theywereinterestedin.Wetrialledsessions, Butthisisanotherareathatmayrequire thesegroupswanttotalkabout. gavethemtastersessionsandtheychosewhat attitudestochange.Botanicgardenstend Ben Oliver, Learning and Participation Manager, theylikedornot.Wenowbuildaprogramme to offerone-offvisitsfortheirtraditional Westonbirt, The National Arboretum with them. audiencesandarelessaccustomedto Ben Oliver, Learning and Participation Manager, workingonlonger-termcommunity Westonbirt, The National Arboretum projects(VergouandWillison,2013).

The Urban Veg project at Buildingtrustandgoodrelationships Participantsalsoverymuchappreciated Winterbourne House and withcommunitiesmeanttakingtime projects’attentiontodetail.For Garden, University of andallocatingsufficientstaffand example,Winterbourneprovideda Birmingham. Photo: resources,particularlyintheplanning prayerroomforMuslimvisitorsaspart Winterbourne House and Garden. phases(VergouandWillison,2013). oftheirproject. Thisindicatestheimportanceofbotanic “I can see a shared gardensdevelopingaudienceresearchskills iftheyaretogrowtheirsocialrole(Interim apprenticeship scheme programmereport,Jun14,unpublished).A workshopongrowingthesocialroleatthe – two days a week in EuropeanGardensConsortiuminPraguein 2013concludedthatgardensneedmodels botanic gardens and foraudienceresearchandtodeveloptheir two days with us.” staffskillsinthisarea.BGCIistakingsteps onthis.BGCIEducationpublishedaspecial clare Joy, organiclea issueofitseducationreview, Roots , on ‘PuttingtheAudienceFirst.BGCIisalso currentlydevelopingaproposalforatoolkit onstaffskillsandstrategiesforaudience developmentforgardensworldwide( Reach Out project).

Above: Working with disabled visitors, the Feel Green project at the University of Leicester Botanic Garden focused on horticulture, plant uses, the environment and art. Photo: ULBG.

Working in partnerships Community-basedenvironmental organisationsatthe PeerReviewForumalso Buildingorstrengtheningpartnerships suggestedimmediatewaysofcollaborating withorganisationsandcommunitygroups withbotanicgardens,formutualbenefit: wasakeyaspectindevelopingsuccessful communityprojects(Derewnickaetal., We’vehadalotofsupportinurbanfood 2015).Bothintervieweesandthose gardens–theprofilehasbeenraisedoverthe attendingthePeerReviewForumstressed lastdecade.Wearenowverykeentoconnect theneedforpartnership: ittoothersinthehorticulturesector…Ican seeasharedapprenticeshipscheme–two Weareveryawareinthecurrenteconomic daysaweekinbotanicgardensandtwodays climatethatweallhavetodocross-sectoral withus. partnerships. Clare Joy, Organiclea Diversity sector commentator TheConservationVolunteers(TCV) TheGeffryeMuseumprojectdemonstrates expressedakeeninterestinworking thevalueofpartnershipinpractice.They with botanicgardens.Theyarealready setinplaceanadvisorypanelthat: doingsomeworkwiththeBotanicGardens inBelfast. …meetsonaquarterlybasisandgivesadvice ontheprojectandwheretoget Othershighlightedtheimportanceof transport/fundingetc.Itismadeupof workingwithexistingnetworkswith representativesfromparticipating overlappinginterests,suchasNatural organisationsandalsoprojectparticipants. England’s‘OutdoorsforAll’workinggroup: Laura Bedford, Access and Public Programmes Manager, The Geffrye, Museum of the Home Therearearangeoforganisationsdelivering comparableservicesandwearepoorat Thisisclearlyawaytoembedongoing talkingtooneanother…Weneedacommon partnershipsthatplan,develop,deliverand voicetogetthroughtothoseresponsible evaluatecollaboratively,sharingknowledge for policyandcommissioning.Ifwehave andexperience. evidencewecanshowwecandeliveron preventativestrategiesthatsavecostsfurther downstream…localsocialservicesand healthcareandbotanicgardenscouldengage inaprocessofmutualexploration.And botanicgardensofferaphysicalfacilitythat otherorganisationssimplydon’thave. Ian Egginton-Metters, Assistant Chief Executive, Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens

Howcanbotanicgardensgrowtheirsocialrole? 19 Watering calendula plants at Robinson House Care Home, for the Bristol Learning from others Myadvicetothebotanicgardenssectoris not Community Plant Collection, Bristol Zoo tomakethesamemistakesasthemuseum Gardens. Photo: BZG. Thereisplainlyalotofknowledgeand sector–puttingmoneyintoshort-term experiencetodrawoninothergardens, projects.Itisawasteoftime. othersectorsandcommunity-based Diversity sector commentator Goodpracticeexistsbothwithinand organisations.BGCIisputting outsidethesectorthatcouldbeshared. considerable timeandresourcesinto ThePeerReviewForumstrongly For instance,Westonbirtemployed disseminatingthisexperiencefrom encouragedgardenstolearnfromothers, two communityofficersin2014.The within thebotanicgardenssector. nationallyandinternationally,whoare recruitmentprocesspaidspecialattention alreadystrongincollaborativeworking toapplicants’experienceincommunity Learningfromothersectorshasgreat with diversity. Thereismuchvaluable engagementandworkingwithdiverse potentialbenefit,forexample,insharing learningto besharedfromothersectors. groups.Thiswasseenassignificant an understandingofworkingwithdiversity, Themeetingdiscussedhowgardensmight progressmadepossiblethroughthe andopeningupideasonactivepublic exchangeknowledgewithcolleagues, garden’sexperiencewith Communities engagementwithbothscienceand includingacademicsandcommunity-based in Nature. diversity inbotanicgardens: activistgroups,withopportunitiesfor workshops,conferencesandtraining Itwassuggestedthatcolleaguesbothin Thediversityworldhasbeenverygood schemeswithfurtherhelp,adviceand othergardensand within gardensshould at lookingatartsandhistory,butnotso assistancefromfunders. begintosupporteachothermorethrough good at includingscienceandbotany. peermentoringandreview,andthe The responsibilityfordoingthatisfor fosteringofopenandhonestreflective horticulturaliststostepforwardtouse Sharing skills practice: their intellecttomarrythesetwoworlds of diversityandscienceandunderstand Assomepointedout,forprojectstobetruly Itwouldbereallybeneficialtohave what itmeansfordiversity. inclusiveandparticipative,it’snotonly shadowingopportunitiesinanother Diversity sector commentator what gardensaredoingbut how theygo organisation,forexample,anexpertmentor. aboutitthatmatters: Ben Oliver, Learning and Participation Manager, Museums,inparticular,arefurtherdown Westonbirt, The National Arboretum theroadofpublicparticipation.Aswellas It’sonethingworkingwithlotsofgroups,it’s learningpositivelessons,botanicgardens anotherthingforthosegroupstofeelthey BGCIiscurrentlyassessingthepotential canavoidsomeofthepitfallsexperienced haveasenseofcommitmentandownership. for peermentoringwithinandbetween bythatsector,notablythedangersofshort- Chandan Mahal, formerly Participation and Learning gardensandhowBGCIcouldsupportand termfundingthatcannotbescaledup: Manager, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew facilitatethis.

20 Howcanbotanicgardensgrowtheirsocialrole? Learning from abroad volunteerandenvironmentalactivist Nature andregrettednotknowingmore. organisationsandlocalgovernment Manywereinterestedintheideaofan Internationalrespondentsoutlinedawide authorities(evenifsometimeswithout, internationalcommunityofpracticebased rangeofprojects,including: asyet,fullcooperationfromacrosstheir onascaled-upversionoftheprogramme. organisations).Examplesincludethe l Short-termprojects,mostlyeducational botanicgardensinSydney,Chicagoand LiketheUKgardens,mostofthese andsomeexperiential(mainlywith Brooklyn. respondentshighlightedaseeminglack children). of commitmentfromleadershiptotheir l Workwithsmallgroupsfromdiverse, Thisverybroaddeﬁnitionof‘growinga garden’ssocialrole,makingitdiﬃcult marginalisedcommunities. socialrole’raisesthequestionofwhether for theworktobesupportedacrossthe someformofstandardisationwouldhelp organisationandtogrow.Theywantedto l Afewoutstandingexamplesofembedded evaluatesuchwork(seeRecommendations). seeBGCIgobeyondasupportiveroletoact work,inwhichwholeinstitutionsdisplay as leader forthesector,helpingmovethe adeeplyrootedcommitmenttotheir However,almostseventypercentofthe sectoraheadwithitsincreasinglyimportant socialrole.Thesegardensworkhand- internationalrespondentssaidtheyhad socialrole. BOXstarts: in-handwiththeircommunitiesin beenlargelyunawareof Communities in partnershipwithcommunity-based,

inspirational gardens

Internationalcolleaguescitedthesegardens – MakerereUniversityBotanicalGarden, asinspiringin:theirsocialrole;their Kampala innovativeandactiveworkwithpeople – MexicanAssociationofBotanicGardens (volunteers,participants,co-producers) withintheirlocalities;workingwithawide – MinnesotaLandscapeArboretum rangeofpartnershipstomakerealchange – MissouriBotanicalGardenMadagascar happen;workingwithcommunitieson Program conservationandclimatechange: – TheMortonArboretum,Chicago – AustralianAridLandsBotanicGarden, PortAugusta – NationalBotanicGarden,Havana – BristolZooGardens – NationalMuseumsofKenya,Nairobi BotanicGarden – BrooklynBotanicGarden – NewEnglandWildﬂowerSociety – ChicagoBotanicGarden – NewYorkBotanicalGarden – ClevelandBotanicalGarden(especially itsGreenCorpsprogramme) – PhippsConservatoryandBotanical Gardens,Pittsburgh – DenverBotanicGardens – RoyalBotanicGardenEdinburgh – Eastwoodhill,NationalArboretumof NewZealand – RoyalBotanicGardensVictoria – EdenProject – RoyalBotanicGardens,Kew(especially foritsinternationalwork) – ElJardínBotánicoRegionaldelCicy, Yucatán – RoyalBotanicGardens,Sydney – FairchildTropicalBotanicGarden, – RoyalTasmanianBotanicalGardens, Miami Hobart – TheGeﬀrye,MuseumoftheHome, – SANBI(SouthAfricanNational London BiodiversityInstitute) – GulleleBotanicGardens,AddisAbaba – SingaporeBotanicGarden – JardínBotánicodePuebla – StateBotanicalGardenofGeorgia – JardínBotánicoRegionaldeCadereyta, – WarsawUniversityBotanicGarden Queretaro – Westonbirt,TheNationalArboretum – JardínEtnobotánicodeOaxaca – XishuangbannaTropicalBotanical Garden

Howcanbotanicgardensgrowtheirsocialrole? 21 Improve communication about Issues with funding Some,however,flaggedthatlackofvision social projects canalsobeaproblem: Issueswithshort-termfundingrunthrough Thereisaneedforbettercommunication manyofthesechallenges: Fundingisabitofanexcuseforgardenswho notonlybetweenorganisationsbut arenotreadytoembracethistypeofwork. also betweeneachorganisationandits Assomeonenewtothefundingapplication Julia Willison, Head of Content and Learning, Royal stakeholdersand,crucially, within processIamdisappointedthathardlyany Botanic Gardens, Kew organisations(BGCI/RCMG,2011). fundersgivefundsforstaffwages.Thisisa Communicationwithingardenswasseen realproblemwithacommunityproject. Fundersalsofeltthatthesectorlackeda as apriority: Anonymous staff member sharedvisionandacohesivestrategybuilt onpartnershipswithotherorganisations It’softenhardtofacilitate‘up’ Themajorityoffundingisforshort-term withoverlappingmissions: communicationinstronglyhierarchical projectsandsoawholeorganisationmaybe organisations,especiallyasmanybotanic committedtothecausebuttheyarethen Botanicgardensisnotamovementbutit gardensarepartofwell-establishedand trappedinshort-termgoalsifthisistheonly couldbe–wedon’thearfrombotanic traditionallyformedheritage/universitysites. fundingtheycansecure. gardens. Itthereforerequiresongoingcommitment World Café participant Jenny Dadd, Grants Manager (Environment Lead), andhardworktocommunicate‘up’ordo Esmée Fairbairn Foundation successful‘in-reach’.Therearegreater Theprogrammeevaluationnotedthat: challengescommunicatingworkinternally “Whileshort-termprojectfundingmaysow Botanicgardensshouldlookatleveraging thanexternally.Systematicchangeis theseedsforchange,strategicfinancingis existingprogressandresourcesinvolving needed inordertokeeptheconversation essentialtosustainchangeoverthelonger sectorsthatmaybefurtheralonginrelation going.Itisimportanttoknowwhatyour term”(VergouandWillison,2013).The to‘socialrole’funding. fellowcolleaguesaredoingindifferent WorldCafédiscussedhowfunderscould departments.Notonlytobeintouchwith bestusetheirresourcestosupportgardens Inturn,funderscouldconsider: organisationalmissionbuttoencourage togrowtheirsocialrole.Funderswere l Backingflexibleprojectswithbroad cross-departmentalcollaborations. enthusiasticaboutbecominginvolved: outcomesthatmayberefinedin Anonymous education staff member collaborationwithlocalcommunities Wewouldwanttoseeaholisticapproach duringtheextendedplanningphase TheWorldCafédiscussionconcludedthatit that integratesoutcomesforpeoplewith (VergouandWillison,2013). isparticularlyimportanttopublicisethe opportunitiesthatthesegreenspacesoffer credibilityofthedepartmentresponsible in urbanspacesfordiverseandunder- l Helpinggardensfocusonbusiness forcommunityoutreachandshowthat representedcommunitiesinskills, planning,includingexaminingthe publicengagementisacorevalueandnota education,volunteering.Therecouldbean tensionbetween‘commercial’and cost.Suggestionsfordoingthisincluded: evenbiggerrelationshipwithschools– ‘social role’missiondevelopment. there iswonderfulpotential.Thisisnotto l Createorganisationalownershipthrough downplay[thegardens’]conservationrole. BGCIisalreadyexploringsomeofthis: internalPR,suchasstaffconferences, Wearealwaysabletofundprojectsthat invitingstafftoexperienceandrecognise furtheraknowledge-pursuingstrategyand Iamveryinterestedindevelopingbusiness theimportanceoftheworkofstaff [we]tryandfundbiodiversityprojects.… modelsforbotanicgardens,forhowthey specialisingindifferentareas. Gardenscouldaccessgovernmentfundingfor can continuetodevelopthisworkonan l Useexternal/publicrecognitionfor anapprenticeshipprogrammeforunder- ongoing basis. internalinfluence,forexamplesharing representedcommunities.Thereisastrong Asimina Vergou, Head of Education, BGCI successstoriesthroughsocialmedia. businesscasefordiversifying[audiencesand fundingsources]. Furthernetworkingandco-development l Facilitateskills/trainingforvolunteers, Jo Reilly, Head of Participation and Learning, Heritage conversationswithfundersareplainly creatingnetworksof‘friend’ Lottery Fund worthfostering.SeetheRecommendations organisationsinthecommunity. sectionformoreondevelopingfunding. l Createsocialenterpriseandself- Wearereallyinterestedincommunicating supportingmodelsthatcangenerate withurbanaudiencesaboutwider revenueoffthebackofprojectsinitially environmentalissues,particularlybecause fundedintheshortterm. there’sadisconnectwithyoungerpeople. Jenny Dadd, Grants Manager (Environment Lead), Esmée Fairbairn Foundation

22 Howcanbotanicgardensgrowtheirsocialrole? recommendations for better practice

Perspectives , an exhibition of photos of Westonbirt, The National Arboretum, Thissectionoutlinesarangeofbroad BGCIisalreadywidelydisseminatinggood taken by Bristol Drugs Project recommendationsfortransformingbotanic practiceviapublications(seeReferences). participants. Photo: Westonbirt. gardensinorderforthemtomeettheir Tomovequicklyonmakingbestuseof socialrole.Italsoincludessuggestionsfor practicebyleadersintheﬁeld,thisreview practicalnextsteps,largelytobetakenby recommendspromotingsuchgardenstoact l Initiateasector-widediscussiononaset BGCIincollaborationwithothersand asa‘hub’,leading,mentoringandsharing ofprinciplesforgardens’socialrolein gardensthemselves. goodpracticewithothergardenstohelp general,and Communities in Nature in themdeveloptheirsocialrole(seebelow). particular,lookingat:

l Activecitizenship Establish a ‘community of Next steps for BGCI practice’ l Capabilitydevelopment l Nurtureanddevelopacommunityof practiceongardens’socialrole. l Developingsustainablepartnerships Thereisclearlyagreatdealofinterestina communityofpractice,workingnotjustin l Explorelearningfromothersectorsand l Beinglocallyinformed theUKbutinternationally.BGCIhasavery linkingwithotherinstitutionsoutside l Supportinggenuine,positivechange importantroleinchampioningthis.But thesector,forexample,sharingan thereisﬁrstaninternalconversationtobe understandingofworkingwithdiversity l Buildingstrongcommunities hadwithinBGCIitself: andactivepublicengagement. l Fostering‘criticalfriends’ Thereisstillworktodoonunderstanding whatwemeanatBGCIintermsofgrowing gardens’‘socialrole’. Asimina Vergou, Head of Education, BGCI

Howcanbotanicgardensgrowtheirsocialrole? 23 Identify and support Set up good practice hub gardens standards

Leadgardens,alreadystrongintheirsocial Thoseinvolvedinworkshopdiscussions rolebothintheUKandelsewhere,could at the2015InternationalCongress forma‘vanguard’group,fromwhichother recommendedthatBGCIhelpthebotanic gardenstakeinspirationandlearnnew gardensectortoidentifystandards and skillsandstrategies. perhapsevenabrandtowhichgardens mightaspire.Thesewouldidentifyand Hubscanhelpsignificantlyinboththe advertiseprinciples,standardsand‘ways developmentanddisseminationof of working’withcommunitiestowhichthe standardsofgoodpracticeandalsostaff botanicgardensectoradheres.Modelsto development.Hubsmightestablishvirtual buildonarealreadyavailableinthesector. orliveworkinggroupscomprisingbotanic gardenstaffandpartnerorganisations.At Suchstandardscouldraiseprofile,reachout thecentreoftheirownnetworks,theycould tofunders/donorsandbepartofinduction supportthedevelopmentofcommunitiesof processesfornewgardenstaff. practiceandgalvanisechangesinpractice: Next steps for BGCI and funders Weneedsomeleadgardens…toshow l Workwithidentifiedhubstoinitiate everyoneelseitcanbedone…the sector-widedialogueonstandards. long -term benefitsoftakingitfurther. Paul Cook, formerly at Ness Botanic Gardens, l Engagewithexistingresearch University of Liverpool consortia withoverlappinginterests (suchashealthandwellbeing,and BGCIneedstoidentify,supportandhelp climatechange). findfundingfor‘hub’gardens.BGCI l Traingardenstaffinaudience should workcloselywiththedirectorsof developmentanddatacollection,to thesegardenstodevelopanetworkthat informstrategicplansandsupport can leadacommunityofpractice,acting fundingapplicationsandlocal as mentors/trainersandsupporting authority support. other gardens. l Establishstandardsandbrandingfor Thiswouldinturnhaveimplications botanicgardens’socialrolethatcan for fundersintermsoftheirbest,most be regularlymonitoredandevaluated effective,sustainableinvestmentandtheir with communitypartners. roleinbrokeringrelationswithother fundersandorganisations.

Next steps for BGCI l Identifylead(‘hub’)gardens,nationally andinternationally,tohelpestablish standardsof‘socialrole’practiceanda supportive‘communityofpractice’for gardens’socialrole. l Investigatebetterwaystoreﬂect collaborativelyonpracticethroughhub mentoringandpeerreview,helpingto Sowing seeds for the Bristol Community Plant builda‘communityofpractice’. Collection, Bristol Zoo Gardens. Photo: BZG. l Setupalargeconsultationprocess with potentialpartnersandestablisha CommunityPartnershipAdvisoryBoard, torolloutlocaladvisoryboardsin botanicgardens,whichcanlaternetwork acrossthesector.

24 Howcanbotanicgardensgrowtheirsocialrole? l Reviewstaﬀroles,jobdescriptions and training;developa(funded)action learning/seminarprogrammeaimed at shiftingthescientist/academic role withinbotanicgardensfroma ‘gatekeeper’modeltoa‘facilitator’and fellowparticipantmodel.

l Institutesharedresponsibilitythrough cross-departmentalprogramme managementstructuresforplanning and delivery.

Next steps for developing garden staff (led by BGCI with senior staff)

l Assessandaddresswhatskillsstaﬀneed tosupporta‘socialrole’.

l Addressstaﬀ’sunderstandingofworking withdiversityandrelatedaudience developmentthroughtrainingand mentoring.Establisha‘Diversityin Nature’professionalsupportnetwork.

l Establishatraineeshipschemein partnershipwithactivistorganisations alreadyoﬀeringthese,suchas Organiclea.

l Raiseindividualgardens’socialproﬁle throughleadinglocalactionsforpositive environmentalchange.

l Establish‘criticalfriend’relationswith communitypartners/participants.

Next steps around volunteers (led by BGCI with garden staff and community organisations)

l Reviewthesocial/culturalcomposition andrecruitmentofgardenvolunteers; workinpartnershipwithvolunteer agenciesandfunderstoinstitutean accreditedvolunteeringprogramme.

l Developthecapabilitiesofparticipants andlocalcommunitiesandthosethatthe gardenneedstodelivereﬀectively.

Next steps around communities (led by Develop skills and capacities in BGCI with garden staff and community gardens and communities organisations)

l Developcapacitiesinpartnershipwith Thisreviewhasidentiﬁedanumberofareas community/environmentalactivist wherestaﬀandotherparticipantsneed organisationsforco-produced supporttodevelopskillsandbuildasense programmes in and out ofgardens,based ofcommonmission. onwhatpeoplecanbring to gardens,as wellwaswhattheycanlearnfrom Next steps for senior staff (led by BGCI) working with them. l Createaleadershipprogrammefor l Ensureparticipantscanmakepractical, the sector. positivechangeintheirlocalityand/or l Createaprofessionaldevelopment garden,withasenseofjoint networkforgardenleaders. achievement.

Howcanbotanicgardensgrowtheirsocialrole? 25 “Gardens could access Participantsinthisreviewidentifiedtwo l Createorexpandafundraising/ mainwaystointegratethesocialroleinto developmentposttoinvestigatenew government funding thegardens’mission: partnerships/areasofcollaborative funding. for an apprenticeship l Aprogrammetosupportthedevelopment ofgardens’visions/missionstatements l Engagewithexistingsocial/environmental programme for under- andstrategicplanswiththesocialrole networks,environmentalactivist embeddedthroughtheirwork. organisationsfocusedonactivechange represented communities. andorganisationsengagedincommunity- l Thedevelopmentofcross-departmental basedurbanconservationprogrammesto There is a strong business managementstructuresingardensfor demonstrateapracticaldifference. planning and deliveringsocialrole case for diversifying programmes. l InviteUKandinternationalscienceand [audiences and funding naturalhistorymuseumstodiscuss Next steps for BGCI overlappingconcernsandstrategiesand sources].” potentialcollaborationand/orshared l Launchitsnewvision/missionfor fundingandprogrammes. Jo reilly, Heritage Lottery Fund botanicgardens. l Positionthesocialroleattheheartofits newstrategy,runningthroughoutthe organisationalplanandsupportedbya revisedcommunicationsstrategy. Incorporate the ‘social role’ in gardens’ mission l Initiateasector-widereviewofmission forgardens’socialrole;support Communities in Nature wasconcernedwith integrationofthe‘socialrole’intothe increasinganddiversifyingaudiences.But renewed mission,visionandstrategyof italsoaimedtochallengethenatureofa eachgarden;roll-outtheprogrammeof garden’sengagementwithpeople,toshift gardens’vision/missionandstrategic theperspectivefrompeoplebeingpassive plandevelopment,withBGCI’snew consumerstobecomingactivepartners.A policiesasamodel. focuson‘activecitizenship’and‘capability’ l Createaseriesofinter-disciplinary developmentshouldbethebasisoffuture discussionsleadingtoafunded fundingapplicationsfortheprogramme. developmentprocessacrossthesector Thismaywellmeanworkingcollaboratively andwithotherstakeholders. withcommunitiesnotjustinsidebutalso outside thegarden.Somegardensaround theworldalreadydothis. Develop different funding Thereisadiscussiontobehadabout approaches whetherthesector’scultureencourages this shift.BothUKandinternational Respondentsfeltstronglythatthereisarole participantsfrequentlyidentifiedthe hereforBGCI. exclusionofthesocialrolefromthe missionsofindividualbotanicgardens Next steps for BGCI with funders as a primaryroadblock.Butthereisalso l Developfundingpartnershipstosupport concernthatgardensshouldnotbediverted thenextstageof Communities in Nature. fromtheiroriginalmission.Indiscussions aroundthisreview,PaulSmith(BGCI l Meetfundersandexistingnetworksto SecretaryGeneral)notedtheimportance explorebetterstrategiesforpotential of lookingathowbotanicgardens’ existing fundingcollaborations;learnfrom DNAandexpertisecanbestbeusedtofulfil fundinginothersectors. thegarden’ssocialrole.Othersechoedthis: l Investigatestrategiesforbrokering a widerrangeofsustainablefunding [Asocialroleis]Huge.It’scoretoourbeing– opportunities. butit’snotourcoremissionandpurpose. Anonymous botanic garden director l Focusonbusiness-planningmodels for gardens.

l Developastrongcommunications strategy.

26 Howcanbotanicgardensgrowtheirsocialrole? afterword

Theprogrammehasalsohighlightedthe obstaclesassociatedwithbringinginnew ideasthatchallengethenormandwhich maybeperceivedbybothvisitorsand botanicgardensstaffasperipheraltotheir interestsormission.Fromthevisitors we havelearntthatengagingthemon their owntermsisanessentialprecursor to anydiscussionsaboutplantsorthe environment.Fromthestaffandvolunteers withinbotanicgardenswehavelearntthat communicatingtheimportanceofour work canbedifficultnotonlytoexternal audiencesbuttoeachotheraswell.For example,botanicgardeneducators frequentlystruggledtogetsenior managementortheirpeersinscienceor horticulturetounderstandtherelevance of theiroutreachwork,andviceversa.

Tothoseofuswhoworkinbotanicgardens allofthisringstrue,andwhere Communities in Nature isparticularlyvaluableisinits recommendationsabouthowwecanbreak downthesebarriersbetweenpeople. Developingacommunityofpracticewith Artwork inspired by inspiringindividualsandapproaches; calendula grown for the Bristol Community Plant BotanicGardensConservation involvingbotanicgardenmanagement, Collection, Bristol Zoo International(BGCI)isverygratefulto horticulturalists,scientists,educators Gardens. Photo: BZG. the CalousteGulbenkianFoundationfor and communityleadersfromtheoutset, fundingandsupportingthe Communities and exchangingideasandexperiencesare in Nature project,whichhasbeena all usefulwaysforward.Ofthegreatest tremendouslearningexperienceforall importance,however,isthesureknowledge involved. Communities in Nature ,through thatbotanicgardensneedtogobeyondtheir publications,onlinecontentandinnovative wallsandtakealeadingroleinengaging projectsinsixbotanicgardens,hasclearly and empoweringallcommunitiestovalue, shownthatreachingoutto,communicating conserveandsustainablymanageplantsand withandvaluingcommunitiesthatwould theirnaturalenvironment,inawaythathas notnormallyvisitabotanicgardenisboth immediatebenefitsforthem.AtBGCIwe worthwhileandrewarding.Commentsfrom arefullycommittedtoachievingthis,and botanicgardenstaffsuchas‘It’sthebest we willdoallwecantomainstreamthis thingIhavedoneinmyhorticulturalcareer approachacrossourbotanicgarden –Idon’tthinkthatIwilleverdoanything membershipworldwide.Growingoursocial thatwilltopit’togetherwithsustained roleshouldnotberegardedasperipheral interactionswiththosecommunitieslong or extraordinary;itshouldberegarded afterthefundinghasgone,suggeststhatthe as essential. Communities in Nature modelhasproduced sustainedbenefitsforallinvolved. dr Paul Smith, Secretary general, Bgci

Howcanbotanicgardensgrowtheirsocialrole? 27 ABOUT THIS PAPER REFERENCES ABOUT BOTANIC GARDENS CONSERVATION Thispaperisbasedonafullerevaluationby BGCI/RCMG,2011, Growing the Social Role: INTERNATIONAL (BGCI) DrBernadetteLynch(Lynch,2015).Her Partnerships in the Community, BGCI reviewdrawson: BGCIisanindependentcharitywhose Derewnicka,L.Vergou,A.Moussouri,T. missionis‘tomobilisebotanicgardensand Initial review with Communities in andFernandezRodriguez,A.,2015, Caring engagepartnersinsecuringplantdiversity Nature participants and stakeholders for your community: A manual for botanic forthewellbeingofpeopleandtheplanet’. Acombinationofonlinesurveyssenttoall gardens. BGCI BGCIlinksmorethan2,500botanic gardensdirectlyfundedby Communities in gardensin120countries,catalysingthemto Nature ,in-depthtelephoneinterviewswith Dodd,J.andJones,C.,2010, Towards a New conservethreatenedplantspeciesandraise keystafffromthosegardens,andtheir Social Purpose: Redefining the Role of Botanic awarenessoftheimportanceofplantsas participationinthepeerreviewmeeting Gardens ,UniversityofLeicesterResearch the earth’sgreatestnaturalresources.Ata in London. CentreforMuseumsandGalleries policylevel,BGCIhasbeeninstrumental in developingthe Global Strategy for Plant Peer Review Forum TheGeffrye,MuseumoftheHome Conservation undertheauspicesofthe Participatinggardensmetpeers,potential ‘EvergreenGardeners’projectreport: ConventiononBiologicalDiversity(CBD) partnerorganisations,relatedsectorsand http://www.geffrye-museum.org.uk/ andhasalsodevelopedseveralmajor fundersinLondon.Theypresentedon learning/community-outreach/older- reportsthathaveinfluencedpolicyand the impactof Communities in Nature on people/evergreen-gardeners/ (last decisionmaking. their organisationandprovidedalistof accessed7September2015) www.bgci.org key questionsaboutthefutureofthe programme.Theseformedthebasisfora Lynch,B.,2015, Botanic Gardens taking WorldCafédiscussionmadeupofmixed action for a better world: Communities in ABOUT THE CALOUSTE groupsof Communities in Nature -funded Nature: Five Year Review ,reportforthe GULBENKIAN FOUNDATION gardens,potentialpartnersandfunding CalousteGulbenkianFoundation (CGF) agencies. RoyalBotanicGardens,Edinburgh,2015, International perspectives NaturePlayfinalreport: TheCalousteGulbenkianFoundation(CGF) InternationalmembersofBGCIwereasked http://stories.rbge.org.uk/wp- isaninternationalcharitablefoundation tocompleteanonlinesurvey,with74 content/uploads/2015/05/NaturePlayFinal withcultural,educational,socialand responsesfromgardensaroundtheworld. .pdf (lastaccessed7September2015) scientificinterests,basedinLisbonwith Thepreliminaryfindingsofthisreview officesinLondonandParis.Thepurposeof werepresentedtothe BGCI 2015 Vergou,A.andWillison,J.,2013, theUKBranchinLondonistobringabout International Congress on Education in Communities in Nature: Evaluation Report long-termimprovementsinwellbeing, Botanic Gardens ,Missouri,withfollow-up Executive Summary, BGCI particularlyforthemostvulnerable,by workshopsprovidingfeedback. creatingconnectionsacrossboundaries Vergou,A.andWillison,J.,2015, (nationalborders,communities, Intotal,127respondents/participants Communities in Nature: Growing the Social disciplinesandsectors)whichdeliver providedfeedback,fromtheUKand Role of Botanic Gardens A Manual for Gardens , social,culturalandenvironmentalvalue. internationally,andfromwithinand BGCI www.gulbenkian.org.uk outsideofbotanicgardens.Weare immenselyappreciativeofthetimeand *** thoughttheygavetoconsideringtheimpact andfutureopportunitiesforthisinitiative. DrBernadetteLynchisanacademicand museumprofessionalwithtwenty-five Thereviewalsodrawsonvariouspublished years’experienceinseniormanagement evaluationsoftheprogrammeand in UKandCanadianmuseums.Formerly individualprojects(seeReferences). DeputyDirectorattheManchester Museum,UniversityofManchester,she For more information specialisesinpublicengagementand participation,leadingpracticeand Furtherinformationabout Communities in influencingdebateontheimpactofpublic Nature canbefoundhere: engagement.SheisHonoraryResearch http://www.bgci.org/public- AssociateatUniversityCollegeLondon. engagement/communities_in_nature/ https://ucl.academia.edu/BernadetteLynch (lastaccessed7September2015).This micrositeincludeskeyreportsandshort filmsfrompilotprojects,BGCI’straining manualsforbotanicgardens,andthe Opposite: Watering the Urban Veg community applet mappingcommunityprojects garden at Winterbourne House and Garden, around theworld. University of Birmingham. Photo: Winterbourne House and Garden.

28 Howcanbotanicgardensgrowtheirsocialrole?

CalousteGulbenkianFoundation UKBranch 50HoxtonSquare LondonN16PB +44 (0)20 7012 1400 [email protected] www.gulbenkian.org.uk