This study explores the locational choices and place meanings for birdwatching in an area of North West England using a qualitative methodology. Detailed, semi-structured interviews of 32 birdwatchers focus on-exploring individual points of view in order to secure rich descriptions of places and birdwatching. Participants were selected from direct appeal to members of three local birdwatching societies and using a 'snowball' technique using one contact to help recruit another contact. The study explores the variety of places that are used as locations for birdwatching. The study suggests there are complex motivations for birdwatching that are not related to birdwatcher type in the ways that existing published literature of recreation and place suggest. A complexity of meanings attributed to recreational locations is suggested by the data, with a spectrum of place use and place meaning including a variety of aesthetic, spiritual, intellectual and emotional motivations Many individuals attributed deep and significant meaning to the places they used whilst others saw places as simply locations where a particular bird was situated. From analysis ofthe data, a number of conclusions are drawn about birdwatching sites in terms of the importance of locations for birdwatching and how attitudes, feelings, meanings and attachment to places are related to the recreational activities associated with those places. These conclusions contribute to wider understandings of the links between places and recreational activity and will be of interest to those involved in recreation management and in the management of locations for recreation.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:655731 |
| Date | January 2011 |
| Creators | Cammack, Paul John |
| Publisher | Lancaster University |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
Page generated in 0.0208 seconds