Green hubs, social inclusion and community engagement

Abstract

This paper proposes a possible framework to examine ideas about public space in relation to culture, knowledge, community engagement and inclusion. It does not seek to challenge current ideas about the sustainable development of public space but rather to offer some additional and interlinked perspectives arising from wider debates on the importance of culture and knowledge in resilience, engagement, community cohesion and sense of place. Green space can be an agent for social cohesion and the sustainable development and inter-connectedness of communities. The shift required to achieve this is to perceive green space not just as a benign and pleasant passive context but as a potentially proactive force for community sustainability, cohesion and engagement, and wider social inclusion – to move from conventional ideas about green ‘space’ to the more nuanced idea of green ‘hubs’ as one way to enhance communities' wellbeing through genuine stakeholder engagement and inclusion. How this shift might be achieved is a complex matter, comprising a combination of skilled professional input and the particular insights that only residents and citizens ‘on the ground’ can provide in any given instance.