“In the garden, I make up for what I can’t in the park”: Reconnecting retired adults with nature through cultural ecosystem services from urban gardens

While cultural ecosystem services (CES) provided by collective urban gardens have been researched for more than a decade, how knowledge of CES can inform the governance and enhance gardeners’ wellbeing remains challenge. Retired adults are group whose lives be especially improved gardening. We interviewed users community allotment in Zagreb to explore their motivations gardening influence different forms garden management on generation CES. Their responses were supplemented contextualised interviews with planners, academics activists. used Fish et al. (2016) framework identify interviews. As expected, drove engagement. grouped into six categories: escape, usefulness tradition, home-grown produce, socialising, wellness, private oasis. Interestingly, food production was only secondary importance as motivator Findings outline recommendations planners decision-makers regarding planning, design that would amplify retired gardeners.