Accessing nature can significantly benefit mental and physical health. However, in England, individuals from low-income areas generally do not access nature to the same extent as those from affluent neighbourhoods due to a lack of private and public greenspace. In response, this research uses ethnography combined with Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis to explore the experiences of allotment gardeners living in low-income areas. The paper aims to (i) explore the possible wellbeing benefits of allotment gardens and (ii) examine the potential role of allotments in making low-income areas ‘just green enough’. Three themes were developed from the analysis. “It’s always going to be something which I associate myself with”: Connection to Self explores the sense of identity and empowerment participants experienced through allotment gardening. “It’s not just your allotment”: Connection with Others outlines the culture of sharing on site which connects gardeners and the challenges to integrating into the community. Finally, “I find the allotment a safe place”: A Space of Sanctuary highlights the importance of allotments as a safe and private place for participants to retreat to for mental wellbeing. The findings demonstrate the importance of allotment gardening within low-income areas for identity, community, empowerment and mental health and have implications for government and local councils by highlighting the importance of allotments for tackling the issue of greening low-income areas.

中文翻译：

---

“我来到这里，它流动”：低收入居民对分配园艺体验的解释性现象学分析


亲近大自然可以显着有益于身心健康。然而，在英格兰，由于缺乏私人和公共绿地，来自低收入地区的个人通常无法像来自富裕社区的人那样接触大自然。作为回应，本研究使用民族志与解释性现象学分析相结合，探索生活在低收入地区的分配园丁的经历。本文旨在 （i） 探索分配花园可能带来的福祉益处，以及 （ii） 研究分配在使低收入地区“足够绿色”方面的潜在作用。从分析中得出了三个主题。“它总是会成为我与之联系的东西”：与自我的连接 探索参与者通过分配园艺体验到的身份感和赋权。“这不仅仅是您的分配”：与他人的联系 概述了将园丁联系在一起的现场分享文化以及融入社区的挑战。最后，“我发现分配地是一个安全的地方”：A Space of Sanctuary 强调了分配地作为参与者放松身心的安全私密场所的重要性。研究结果表明，在低收入地区进行分配园艺对身份、社区、赋权和心理健康的重要性，并通过强调分配对解决低收入地区绿化问题的重要性，对政府和地方议会产生了影响。