Urban Forest Stories Sessions | FAQ
The Urban Forest Stories sessions are part of ongoing PhD research on Intersectional Belonging. Are you joining one of the sessions? Find the answers to any questions you might have below. If you have any other questions, please contact researcher Lotte Dijkstra at C.M.Dijkstra2@newcastle.ac.uk.
faq | download PDF overview
What is the research project?
What is the research project about?
What is the purpose of the research?
What does taking part involve?
How can I prepare myself for a co-creation session?
What information will be collected, and who will have access to the information collected?
(1) Creative contribution and shared experiences
(2) Name and contact details
(3) Personal details
(4) Recording of the workshop
What happens with my data after the co-creation session?
Will my creative contribution, my words or drawings, be edited or changed after I share them during the session?
Who holds the copyright over the creative output of the research?
Where can I find the results of the research study?
Why have I been invited to take part?
What are the possible benefits of taking part?
What are the possible disadvantages and risks of taking part?
Who is the sponsor and data controller for this research?
Who is funding this research?
Has this study received ethical approval?
Who should I contact for further information relating to the research?
Who should I contact to file a complaint?
What is the research project?
The research project is a Landscape Architectural PhD study about socio-environmental justice in the context of urban forests. The project title is ‘Intersectional Belonging: Exploring senses of belonging for equitable access to urban forest places across communities’. The project falls under the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape at Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.
What is the research project about?
For many people, urban forests are nature close to home. For non-humans, urban forests are home. At the same time, engagement with and access to urban forests and their countless benefits for human and nature well-being is unequal. How can we explore such a cross-cutting question on social and environmental justice? And how can place-based narratives help connect us to nature and our non-human kin close to home?
This PhD research by creative practice aims to explore how senses of belonging contribute to equitable access to urban forest places across communities. The intersectional approach recognises that we are more than our age, ethnicity, health, or social background. Instead, collaborative place-based storytelling sessions help give voice to historically marginalised perspectives, exploring intersecting identities of human dwellers, other-than-human occupants and the urban forest place itself are explored. The Gateshead Riverside Park in the North East of England is the main location for the collaborative place-based storytelling sessions. The creative results from the sessions are connected to theory to interpret the findings, using writing as a tool for critical thinking. The creative product will be produced as an ongoing piece of work, culminating in an anthology of co-produced illustrated urban forest stories. Both the resulting insights and the methodology aim to contribute to the intersection of urban forestry, environmental justice and community engagement.
What is the purpose of the research?
Urban forests are essential for green infrastructure in and around cities and offer countless benefits to human health, well-being, and the environment. However, not everyone benefits from these urban forests in the same way or measure. Some people have more opportunities to enjoy urban forests based on age, ethnicity, health, income, available time, access, and personal preferences. We must first understand why these differences exist to solve such inequitable access. Why do some people feel like they belong in an urban forest, and why don’t others feel the same? And what can we do to make more people feel at home in the urban forest?
The results from the research study are educational. The output will help urban designers, planners, and legislators better understand how urban forests can be made and managed so that everyone in the city can enjoy them.
What is the purpose of the collaborative place-based storytelling sessions?
Participants are asked to share their experiences with and thoughts of a particular urban forest place in each creative session. Through questions and exercises, we will explore what urban forest in this place means to us, how we feel about it, and what we would like to change about it to increase our sense of belonging.
What does taking part involve?
One session takes about 2 (two) hours. The relevant information will be available to you before the session, such as the location, date, start and end time and what to bring. Sessions are organised in Gateshead Riverside Park, unless indicated otherwise. Your invitation will ask you to join a session in a specific location. You can join as many sessions as you like, but you should join at least one if you want to contribute to the research.
Each co-creation session starts with a brief introduction where the lead researcher explains several exercises to explore urban forests in North East England. Exercises may include writing down memories of a particular place, taking photos, drawing images or designs, or creating small models. You will be asked to join these exercises and share your personal interpretations. At the end of each session, you will discuss the findings with the other participants and the lead researcher. You will be asked to fill in an anonymous form with your personal details, nature preferences, and how you experienced the session.
How can I prepare myself for a co-creation session?
You don’t have to have prior experience with co-creation sessions or Urban Forestry research. You do not have to prepare anything for the session. Please be aware that sessions will mostly take place outside. Dress appropriately: wear good shoes and comfortable clothing, and bring waterproofs or sunscreen depending on the weather. The lead researcher will have backup waterproofs and sunscreen. Bottled water and a light snack will be available. You are welcome to bring your own food and drink.
What information will be collected, and who will have access to the information collected?
We will collect different types of information during the workshop:
(1) Your creative contribution and shared experiences;
(2) Your name and contact details;
(3) Your personal details;
(4) Recording of the workshop.
(1) Creative contribution and shared experiences
During the workshop, you will be asked to join in creative explorations. This includes but is not limited to the making of drawings and crafts projects, the taking of photographs, and the writing of short pieces of text. While working on these creative products, you will be asked to share your thoughts and feelings about the urban forest where the workshop takes place. You can choose to make these contributions anonymously, but you are free to sign them with your name.
Please bear in mind that the contributions will be compiled for the research. A selection of contributions will be published and publicly displayed in, e.g., an exhibition or online publication. If you want to take your contribution home with you, please let the Principle Investigator know at the end of the workshop to discuss the options.
(2) Name and contact details
We will use your name and contact details (telephone number or email address) to contact you about the research study and the research study only.
(3) Personal details
We will use the personal details you choose to share through your creative contribution to analyse the creative output from the co-creation session. This may include details such as your age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religious or philosophical beliefs, health, and connection to nature. The personal details will be de-identified and anonymously processed: they cannot be traced directly to you, nor can they be traced to your creative contribution. Individuals at Newcastle University may look at your research data to check the accuracy of the research study. The only individuals at Newcastle University who will have access to information that identifies you will be individuals who need to contact you to confirm your participation in the research study or audit the data collection process.
(4) Recording of the workshop
We will record parts of the workshop for research accuracy and public dissemination. This may include the taking of photos and videos or the making of sound recordings. If you don’t feel comfortable being in these recordings, please indicate this on your consent form or at any time during or after the workshop. Please let the Principle Investigator know if you change your mind during the workshop. Please note that no recognisable recordings will be made of minors who join co-creation sessions unless explicit permission is given by their legal guardians.
What happens with my data after the co-creation session?
Suppose you agree to take part in the research study. In that case, your data will become part of a dataset that can be accessed by other users running other research studies at Newcastle University and in other organisations. These organisations may be universities, NHS organisations or partner institutes of Newcastle University. Your information will only be used by organisations and researchers to conduct research.
If you agree to take part in the research study, the data provided will be de-identified and made available as so-called ‘open data’ through Newcastle University’s research depository https://data.ncl.ac.uk/. This includes your creative contributions, your personal details, and relevant workshop recordings. The de-identified study data will be publicly available and may be used for purposes not related to this study. Identifying you from the ‘open data’ will not be possible. The data will be kept 10 years from the last date of access. After this point, the data will be reviewed and either retained or destroyed. Any destruction will follow legal and funder requirements.
Your name and contact details will be destroyed after the research is completed. Any destruction will follow legal and funder requirements.
Will my creative contribution, my words or drawings, be edited or changed after I share them during the session?
No, your creative contribution, including your words and drawings and any other product, will not be altered. For legibility, your contribution may be digitally scanned or transcribed by the principal researcher, and potential grammatic errors may be corrected.
Who holds the copyright over the creative output of the research?
For individual contributions: You retain the copyright over your individual work. You don’t have to sign your contribution to keep the copyright.
For each session: The copyright of the final creative product of each session will be shared among all participants, including the principal researcher. Even if you did not contribute any creative products such as words or drawings, your contribution through being present will be recognised. All participants are listed as co-author of the creative product for the session, unless you don’t want your name publicly listed. The principle researcher will offer you to anonymously add your name to the participant list.
For the over-all creative output of the research: All workshop participants are co-authors of the final creative output. The principle researcher is the editor of the final creative output and decides how the creative output is compiled. Even if your individual contribution is not included, your contribution through being present will be recognised. Your individual contribution will not be changed except for legibility. If you indicicated this on your consent form, you will receive the draft of the final report before publication to review it and, if necessary, amend the use of your submitted data.
Where can I find the results of the research study?
The creative contributions of all participants will be collected and edited into the research results and the creative output. If you want to see the final product or visit future events, you can leave your contact details: with the principal researcher, on the informed consent form, or on the designated form available at the end of the workshop.
Why have I been invited to take part?
Dependent on which event you registered for, you have been invited because you live in the vicinity of Gateshead Riverside Park in the North East of England; because you are an urban forest researcher, professional, or student; or because you have previously indicated to the principal researcher that you are interested in being a part of the research project. The key study group for this research involves visitors and ‘neighbours’ of Gateshead Riverside Park along the River Tyne, Gateshead, Tyne & Wear, North East of England.
What are the possible benefits of taking part?
Your taking part will contribute to scientific research. Your creative contributions will potentially be displayed in an exhibition. During the session, you might find you like spending time outside in (urban) nature. You have an opportunity to share your personal opinion about and experience with urban forests. You have the chance to connect with new people and will get to work on original creative explorations.
The research study aims to share the results with those responsible for making and managing the urban forests in the Tyne & Wear region. This does not mean existing plans will change, but future plans for urban forest developments could be positively influenced by the research study outcomes.
What are the possible disadvantages and risks of taking part?
The likelihood of harm during the co-creation sessions is very low. Please consider the sessions taking place largely outside. You can experience mild inconvenience due to the weather. You can experience mild inconvenience due to allergies. If you suffer from hay fever or other known allergies, please carefully consider your participation. If you decide to participate, inform the lead researcher of your condition, so allowances can be made to accommodate you. You can additionally experience inconvenience due to muddy or wet areas in the urban forest. Please be careful how you walk through the location. Depending on the season, there might be a risk of exposure to ticks or other insects. A first-aid kit, a tick removal tool and insect repellent are available via the lead researcher.
As the co-creation sessions are organised on location with multiple, often local participants, you could meet people you know during the session. The co-creation session could also attract other interested people in the park, asking what the session is about. The research team does everything possible to make the session as safe as possible, so you can share your thoughts and ideas in a respectful manner. If, at any point, you feel uncomfortable with fellow participants or onlookers, please reach out to the lead researcher so they may intervene.
Who is the sponsor and data controller for this research?
Newcastle University is the sponsor for this study based in the United Kingdom. Newcastle University will use your information to undertake this study and act as the data controller for this study. This means that Newcastle University is responsible for looking after your information and using it properly.
The lawful basis for carrying out this study under GDPR is Task in the Public Interest (Article 6,1e), as research is cited as part of the University’s duties. The lawful basis for processing any special categories of personal data is Scientific Research (Article 9,2j).
Your rights to access, change or move your information are limited, as Newcastle University need to manage your information in specific ways for the research to be reliable and accurate. If you withdraw before or during the co-creation session, all of your details will be removed from the study. If you withdraw from the study at a later stage when data has been de-identified and anonymously processed, Newcastle University will remove all personally identifiable information.
You can learn more about how Newcastle University uses your information at https://www.ncl.ac.uk/data.protection/ and/or by contacting their Data Protection Officer at rec-man@ncl.ac.uk.
Who is funding this research?
This research is funded by Newcastle University through two funding schemes:
1. The Forshaw PhD Studentship Award in Architecture 2022-2024 from the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape. More information: https://www.ncl.ac.uk/apl/study/postgraduate-research/pgr-funding-and-scholarships/;
2. A HaSS Pioneer Award of the Institute of Social Sciences. More information: https://www.ncl.ac.uk/social-science/research-support/pioneer-awards/
Has this study received ethical approval?
Yes. This study has received ethical approval from Newcastle University’s HaSS Research Ethics Committee on 19 August 2022 under reference number 21236.
Who should I contact for further information relating to the research?
Principle Investigator research study Intersectional Belonging:
Lotte Dijkstra (she/her), C.M.Dijkstra2@newcastle.ac.uk
Who should I contact to file a complaint?
If you wish to raise a complaint on how your personal data is handled, you can contact the University Data Protection Officer at Newcastle University, who will investigate the matter: rec-man@ncl.ac.uk.
If you are not satisfied with their response, you can complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO): https://ico.org.uk/
If you wish to file any other complaints, contact the Principle Investigator of the research study: Lotte Dijkstra (she/her), C.M.Dijkstra2@newcastle.ac.uk