Understanding the Challenge
Urban green spaces have the capacity to support higher pollinator abundances and diversity, whilst positively supporting human physical and mental health. Residential gardens have the potential to increase biodiversity; however, garden owners may be reluctant to implement changes. Additionally, different features (e.g. ponds, trees, flowering plants) within the garden may support biodiversity in different ways (e.g. provide refuge, nesting space, source of food) and to different extents.
My Approach
This PhD project aims to investigate both human attitudes and behaviours related to implementing biodiversity interventions in gardens, as well as assessing the ecological impact these interventions have on biodiversity and wildlife.
Study 1, conducted between May and September 2025, used within-participant surveys to investigate how attending a bioblitz event influences knowledge and the willingness to promote biodiversity in gardens. Pre- and post- surveys assessed how people’s motivation, perceived capability and opportunity to promote biodiversity (i.e., COM-B factors) varied based on attending a bioblitz session.
Study 2, launched December 2025, utilises q-methodology and aims to investigate how important different features are in supporting biodiversity in residential gardens.
Amy Sorrell
PhD Student
School of Psychology
Project Start Date: 01/10/2024
Email: amy.sorrell@northumbria.ac.uk
Supervisory team: Dr Lee Shepherd, Dr Katherine Baldock, Professor Thomas Pollet
Project Themes
