From plot to Place : Individual meaning and personal value of Stockholm’s allotment gardens from a renters’ perspective

With increased demand for urban green spaces in densifying cities, the interest in urban gardens is resurrected. However, social aspects such as a renters’ ecosystem service perspective have been neglected. By focusing on five allotment gardens (AGs) in Stockholm, Sweden, consideration is put on long-established urban gardens. To explore the individual meaning and personal value of Stockholm’s AGs from the renters’ perspective the concept of Place is employed under the self-appointed name feeling of Place. The analysis seeks to depict the construction, experience, and expression of feeling of Place of Stockholm’s allotment gardeners. The data was collected through semi-structured interviews with additional observations and revealed AGs’ role for providing purpose through gardening as recreational practice creating (re)connection with nature. Crucial precondition are continuity and the behaviour in the gardens guided by the norms in the AG social sphere. Memories with the culture of gardening influence the experience, as well as social interaction, resulting in the (visible) expression of the AGs as home. Concluding, the gardens are centres of meaning which create identity and purpose. Future research and planning should increasingly consider a bottom-up perspective to understand the importance of allotment gardens as meaningful urban green spaces for their renters.