Science Festival Event Aims To Discover Opinions on Woodland Landscapes

Woodlands help offset our carbon emissions, provide us with timber, and offer sheltered environments for walking the dog or for hurtling through on a mountain bike- but does how they look also matter?

That’s the focus of two public events to be held in Scotland this week, where researchers from the Macaulay Institute and the University of Aberdeen are asking people to tell them what they like about woodland landscapes.

The open days, held in Craigiebuckler in Aberdeen and The Hub in Edinburgh on Wednesday 12th and Saturday 15th of March respectively, are linked to the Institute’s Rural Economy and Land Use project (RELU) and aim to encourage people to get involved and voice their personal opinions on woodland.

The Macaulay’s Dr Justin Irvine, who is organising the event, said: “Woods are increasingly important for people, wildlife and timber production and are very much shaped by these factors. Land-use policies have promoted the planting of trees so that the amount of woodland is set to expand over the next 20 years.

“We are extremely interested in people’s views on woodland landscapes and want to find out what they like about woodlands and the features which they value.”

In partnership with the Universities of Aberdeen and Edinburgh, the two events are part of the ESRC Festival of Social Science. Using virtual demonstrations, the event will discover more about what people in both urban and rural communities feel about woodland landscapes.

Visitors to the events titled, ‘How do you like your woods?’ will be presented with a range of woodland landscapes in a 20 minute presentation shown in the Macaulay Institute’s Virtual Landscape Theatre (VLT). The only mobile unit of its kind in the UK, the VLT can demonstrate the potential impact of proposed landscape changes on the environment. During the demonstration, participants will be given the chance to express their preferences and vote for their preferred woodland environment.

Dr Irvine continues: “The Virtual Landscape Theatre will allow people to consider whether attractive landscape views are compatible with other woodland management. We hope to determine the various issues which alter people’s perceptions and compare the differentiating opinions held by both rural and urban populations.”

Those interested in attending either of the events can attend between 9.00am and 6.00pm or alternatively group sessions can be booked. To book call 01224 498200 or email l.forbes@macaulay.ac.uk

The Macaulay Institute is the premier land use research institute in the UK. Two hundred and seventy staff are based at the Macaulay Institute at Craigiebuckler in Aberdeen. The Macaulay Institute aims to be an international leader in research on the use of rural land resources for the benefit of people and the environment and is involved in research across the globe; from Scotland to Chile and China. More about the Macaulay Institute can be found at www.macaulay.ac.uk

ENDS

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The Festival of Social Science is organised by the Economic and Social Research Council, and runs from March 7th to 16th, alongside National Science and Engineering Week. It celebrates some of the very best British social science research, as well as highlighting the ways in which social science makes a difference to everyday lives.

Press releases detailing some of the varied events are available at www.esrcfestival.ac.uk or for more information please contact the ESRC Press Office on 01793 413032 or via e-mail esrcpressoffice@esrc.ac.uk

A programme of events can be found at: www.esrcfestival.ac.uk