Aims and Objectives
The overall aim of the original research brief was to ‘examine and describe the nature and extent of ‘Forestry for People’ benefits accruing to residents in the two case study areas, and to analyse the relationship between benefit types’. This was achieved by undertaking two principal phases of research. The first phase produced a detailed spatially-explicit profile of each case study area. The data from this first phase then enabled the targeted execution of a second research phase. This involved a more in-depth analysis of ‘Forestry for People’ benefits with selected groups and individuals, using primarily qualitative social scientific research methods.
The research was guided by two main Research Questions:
1) What are the benefits of woodland related activities and use?
a) Explore typologies of activities/ uses.
b) Find description or evidence.
c) Demonstrate who benefits and how.
d) Explore partnerships and map institutionaland community relationships.
2) How and to what extent do woodland related activities and use contribute to community (and personal) development?
a) Explore the relationships between benefit types and actors / places.
b) Explore the ‘outcomes’ of activities and uses (community and personal development).
The questions were used to guide the investigation of the Social Benefits themes developed by the wider Forestry Commission ‘Forestry for People’ project:
o Culture
o Health
o Education
o Recreation
o Amenity
o Livelihoods
o Community Capacity
From the outset it was recognized that the schema of themes breaks a continuous social phenomenon into discreet categories in order to ease the task of conducting research. Not only are the themes interrelated but exploring those
inter-relationships was one of the important focuses of the study.
