Climate-adapted, traditional or cottage-garden planting? Public perceptions, values and socio-cultural drivers in a designed garden setting

The global climate crisis precipitates a call to ‘futureproof’ cities by introducing resilient climate-adapted urban green infrastructure (UGI). Recent UK research has revealed public support for UGI, yet there is lack of focusing on the values underlying perceptions, particularly in relation change, and socio-cultural factors driving these. This was addressed asking 249 people walk through one three contrasting areas planting: exotic (climate-adapted); traditional or cottage-garden, within designed garden setting, whilst conducting self-guided questionnaire assessing participants’ perceptions aesthetics, self-reported restorative effect, plant invertebrate biodiversity. Participants’ held non-native species, nature-connectedness were also addressed. Findings indicated aesthetic preference planting over other two styles, providing further evidence cultural acceptance policymakers land-managers seeking UGI. Planting cottage-garden style perceived as least attractive, but most restorative. Socio-cultural characteristics including age, educational qualifications, taking holidays overseas drivers perceptions. Professional involvement interest environment, landscape, horticulture identified values. Values change directly related qualifications. identifies need consider novel approaches education promote wider understanding implications climate-change potential UGI deliver ‘futureproofing’ benefits mitigation human mental wellbeing.