I händerna på fritidsodlare: hur kulturarv kan formuleras i berättelser om trädgårdar

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis is to examine the relationships and narratives recreational gardeners have with their gardens, and to identify how various forms of cultural heritage, both tangible and intangible, emerge within their stories. The study is based on interviews with six respondents across four different gardens, exploring topics such as garden origins, heritage plants, care and maintenance, favourite species, and common gardening challenges. Furthermore, the respondents discussed the historical and contemporary sources of their horticultural knowledge and inspiration, including garden associations, family and their upbringing, travels, and gardening media like books and magazines. The findings reveal that these recreational gardeners possess a wealth of knowledge. This thesis demonstrates that a garden is a dynamic environment that cannot simply be frozen in time for the sake of preservation. Instead, gardens are flexible spaces and by documenting the gardeners' perspectives serves as a vital method for preserving and articulating cultural heritage. This encompasses not only the tangible plant material but also the intangible stories, memories, inspiration, knowledge, connections, and personal expressions they hold. Research of this nature highlights the feasibility of documenting the cultural heritage embedded within these personal narratives. Recreational gardeners play a crucial role as carriers and mediators of cultural heritage. Through their stories, memories, and knowledge, we gain a profound understanding of the life within their gardens and their cultural worth.