Making Provision for First-Hand Nature-Based Learning Within a Botanic Garden
This paper reports on a study of nature play in two botanic gardens where there are normally strict rules about touching and handling plants. Features of nature-based play and learning are presented, and the available evidence is drawn together as the basis for a series of nature interventions trial...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-04-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Education |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feduc.2022.778151/full |
| _version_ | 1817988260876517376 |
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| author | Sarah MacQuarrie Clare Nugent |
| author_facet | Sarah MacQuarrie Clare Nugent |
| author_sort | Sarah MacQuarrie |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This paper reports on a study of nature play in two botanic gardens where there are normally strict rules about touching and handling plants. Features of nature-based play and learning are presented, and the available evidence is drawn together as the basis for a series of nature interventions trialed within a botanic garden. Data were recorded using three methods: time-sampled observations, annotation of intervention-specific maps, and follow-up feedback forms completed by adults. Findings evidence that the nature play can be fostered in botanic gardens and it is advantageous to support such interaction by carefully promoting play in designated spaces. Visitors embraced play opportunities and valued the freedom to behave and investigate in ways that are a departure from tradition and given the lack of research regarding such play and learning environments such findings ought to be noted as addressing a gap within the literature. Findings are relevant to comparable sites that encounter challenges when balancing differing agendas that include nature conservation with visitor experience. Botanic gardens can offer a useful route to examine conservation, environmental understanding, and stewardship with the youngest members of society as nature play experiences are first-hand and locally relevant. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-14T00:32:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5b2ee26269404e1885369fa64716232e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2504-284X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-14T00:32:00Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Education |
| spelling | doaj.art-5b2ee26269404e1885369fa64716232e2022-12-22T02:22:31ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Education2504-284X2022-04-01710.3389/feduc.2022.778151778151Making Provision for First-Hand Nature-Based Learning Within a Botanic GardenSarah MacQuarrie0Clare Nugent1Manchester Institute of Education, University of Manchester, Manchester, United KingdomIndependent Educational Consultant, Edinburgh, United KingdomThis paper reports on a study of nature play in two botanic gardens where there are normally strict rules about touching and handling plants. Features of nature-based play and learning are presented, and the available evidence is drawn together as the basis for a series of nature interventions trialed within a botanic garden. Data were recorded using three methods: time-sampled observations, annotation of intervention-specific maps, and follow-up feedback forms completed by adults. Findings evidence that the nature play can be fostered in botanic gardens and it is advantageous to support such interaction by carefully promoting play in designated spaces. Visitors embraced play opportunities and valued the freedom to behave and investigate in ways that are a departure from tradition and given the lack of research regarding such play and learning environments such findings ought to be noted as addressing a gap within the literature. Findings are relevant to comparable sites that encounter challenges when balancing differing agendas that include nature conservation with visitor experience. Botanic gardens can offer a useful route to examine conservation, environmental understanding, and stewardship with the youngest members of society as nature play experiences are first-hand and locally relevant.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feduc.2022.778151/fullnature playoutdoor learningbotanic gardenspreschool (kindergarten)educationschool |
| spellingShingle | Sarah MacQuarrie Clare Nugent Making Provision for First-Hand Nature-Based Learning Within a Botanic Garden Frontiers in Education nature play outdoor learning botanic gardens preschool (kindergarten) education school |
| title | Making Provision for First-Hand Nature-Based Learning Within a Botanic Garden |
| title_full | Making Provision for First-Hand Nature-Based Learning Within a Botanic Garden |
| title_fullStr | Making Provision for First-Hand Nature-Based Learning Within a Botanic Garden |
| title_full_unstemmed | Making Provision for First-Hand Nature-Based Learning Within a Botanic Garden |
| title_short | Making Provision for First-Hand Nature-Based Learning Within a Botanic Garden |
| title_sort | making provision for first hand nature based learning within a botanic garden |
| topic | nature play outdoor learning botanic gardens preschool (kindergarten) education school |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feduc.2022.778151/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sarahmacquarrie makingprovisionforfirsthandnaturebasedlearningwithinabotanicgarden AT clarenugent makingprovisionforfirsthandnaturebasedlearningwithinabotanicgarden |