How might we utilise the concept of botanic gardens' in urban contexts to challenge plant blindness?

Abstract

Plant blindness remains an understudied Anthropocentric concept. There is a societal naivety to the importance of plants, and lack of awareness of the human impact of plant life, which renders many 'plant blind'. This research develops a Plant Blindness (PB) scale to address plant blindness within a botanic and urban space, pursuing an investigation into the motivations and beliefs of people in terms of plant awareness, plant fascination and conservationist efforts. Interviews with specialists within botany and horticulture suggest how we might better understand and utilise the function of botanic gardens' within an urban context, using botanic spaces to further amplify societal interest in plant life, thus challenging plant blindness. Botanic gardens' document collections of living plants, researching and setting exemplar sustainable and ethical standards for the conservation and cultivation of rare and threatened plants, educating and bringing global plant conservation to the forefront of our natural world. Botanic gardens research innovation, scientific knowledge, heritage and expertise in sustaining a globally diverse range of plant species could be advantageous in the future design of urban spaces. It is through establishing active engagement between botanic spaces and urban spaces that plant blindness can be challenged, establishing a future vision for botanic gardens and botanic spaces, exploring the role botany could adopt within society.