The evaluation of the Culture Nature programme, conducted by CCRI and EAP Research Consultancy has been published today to mark Green Libraries week (27th – 31st October).
A collaborative project between Natural England and Libraries Connected, Culture Nature provided libraries across the country with funding to provide nature connection activities in their local communities. Activities focused on getting people out into nature, but also on bringing nature into library spaces, in inclusive ways that recognised the barriers many people experience in engaging with the natural world.
The evaluation, led by Demelza Jones with CCRI’s Alice Goodenough and EAP’s Jonathon Hobson and Daniel Ash, combined a programme wide library and audience staff feedback on activities, with in-depth case studies of seven libraries, selected to reflect the variety of library locations, audiences reached and activity delivered across the programme.
The evaluation found high levels of audience engagement and enjoyment of activities, and an increased sense of nature connection and wellbeing benefits, while library staff saw new potential in their library offer to deliver these kinds of activities in their communities.
Crucially, the use of the public library network, as trusted, inclusive and free-to-access spaces in the heart of communities helped overcome some of the barriers faced in accessing nature in urban or nature depleted areas, or by marginalised groups.
The evaluation has resulted in a report and profiles of case study libraries, as well as a short film produced by Gloucestershire-based Unit 1 Productions (below).
You can download the final report and summary report (which contains details of the case studies) at the University of Gloucestershire’s research repository via the links below:
