On a gloriously sunny day in July, we launched our Dundee campaign, kicking-off an ambitious year-long data gathering initiative aimed at strengthening the city’s greenspaces for all.
Urban ReLeaf Dundee
The first phase of the project in Dundee centres on capturing public perceptions of greenspace. Quality, accessible, and inclusive greenspaces play an essential role in realizing Dundee’s vision of a healthier, more equitable, and resilient future. Using the Urban ReLeaf Cities app, website, or paper survey, people are encouraged to share their experiences in parks. This will build a large citizen generated data-base to help inform local authority decision making.
A Fitting Start
With these aims in mind, it was fitting that Dundee launched Urban ReLeaf in one of its most popular and well-known public parks, Baxter Park. The Baxter Park Pavilion, with panoramic views across the greenspace welcomed around 30 local partners to kick off the public data collection. Key figures from the University of Dundee, The Eden Project, Dundee Cycling Hub, Dundee Access Forum and more, joined together in recognition of the initiatives’ aims.
Guests briefly heard from three speakers: Naomi Clarke, Senior Sustainability Officer at Dundee City Council, shared how Urban ReLeaf supports the city’s work on dealing with climate change risk and vulnerability, Mel Woods, Professor of Creative Intelligence at the University of Dundee, explained how citizen-science can play a role in strengthening Dundee as well as success stories from other cities, and Manuela de los Rios, Gardening Mentor at the Maxwell Centre, provided inspiration from work she has led in Hilltown Park that has helped engage and give agency to a neighbourhood around their space.
Going Forward
Dundee aims to engage the entire city in the coming year. A volunteer scheme is set to launch, fostering a dedicated corps of engagement volunteers. These volunteers will be instrumental in raising awareness within local parks and assisting residents in sharing their data.
Find out more: Urban ReLeaf | Sustainable Dundee