This project uses surveys and focus groups to understand more about how adolescent girls use green spaces and what they and their parents perceive to be barriers and facilitators to use.
Focus groups are ongoing however early findings suggest the following factors influence adolescent girls’ park use:
- park lighting
- feeling welcome
- intimidation/harassment from boys
- fear of dogs
- age-appropriate activities
- feeling safe
- being satisfied with local parks.
The project has also designed, trialled and evaluated a series of workshops which engage teenage girls in co-designing green spaces. Working with Bradford Metropolitan District Council, landscape architects and the Born in Bradford JU:MP programme, these spaces have been built. Early findings suggest that the girls valued the opportunity to be involved in green space design, felt safe to express ideas, and felt listened to by seeing their ideas in the final designs and builds.