Research issues

The study sought to address these issues of aesthetic appreciation for the woodland, perception of personal safety, and the perceived suitability of Birchwood as a place to bring up children, as well as exploring these is­sues in more detail by examining the cultural meanings that the woodland held for Birchwood’s inhabitants. In this context “cultural meanings” means the collective understandings held by a set of people with common characteristics (e. g. place of residence, gender). These may be developed or altered by individual reflection or experience (Bourassa 1991), and may differ widely between societal groups with different interests or character­istics.