In and out of place: diverse experiences and perceived exclusion in UK greenspace settings

Palmer, Andrew K. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4789-1464; Riley, Mark ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3259-323X; Clement, Sarah ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5422-622X; Evans, Karl L.; Jones, Laurence ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4379-9006; Brockett, Beth F.T. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3065-0437; Opara, Victoria ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5148-3204. 2025 In and out of place: diverse experiences and perceived exclusion in UK greenspace settings. Environment and Planning E: Nature and Space. 28, pp. 10.1177/25148486251316124

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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1177/25148486251316124

Abstract/Summary

People from all sections of society should feel welcome and included to enjoy greenspaces. However, people from ethnic minority backgrounds may experience exclusionary practices and discriminatory processes, limiting their access, enjoyment, and benefits from such spaces. This paper aims to address these issues through an in-depth qualitative study exploring how 53 individuals from UK ethnic minority backgrounds residing in Bristol perceive and experience exclusion in UK greenspaces. Going beyond narratives that pathologise the exclusion of ethnic minorities from greenspaces, this research reveals a spectrum of experiences related to perceived exclusion, including both positive and negative, and challenges and expressions of empowerment and agency. Common experiences of exclusion are often intangible, necessitating sensitivity to their elusive and relational nature, with variation between urban and rural contexts. Drawing on Bourdieusian theories of practice, this study illuminates how social and cultural capital, habitus, and symbolic violence shape exclusionary practices and discriminatory processes, contributing to feelings of otherness, discomfort among UK ethnic minority group members in greenspaces. By highlighting the diverse nature of these processes and their variations across social and geographic contexts, this study emphasises the need for tailored, coproduced interventions to enhance greenspace accessibility and engagement. It advocates for recognising diverse experiences, integrating critical thought into environmental planning, and leveraging social and cultural capital to promote inclusivity and address systemic inequalities.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1177/25148486251316124
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Land-Atmosphere Interactions (2025-)
ISSN:	2514-8486
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.
Additional Keywords:	ethnic minorities, nature, discrimination, environmental justice, greenspace
NORA Subject Terms:	Ecology and Environment
Date made live:	28 Mar 2025 10:04 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/539173

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.1177/25148486251316124

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

Land-Atmosphere Interactions (2025-)

ISSN:

2514-8486

Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:

Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.

Additional Keywords:

ethnic minorities, nature, discrimination, environmental justice, greenspace