Helen Hoyle

Email:hehoyle1@sheffield.ac.uk

Academic Qualifications:

1985 – 88 B.A Hons. Geography , Oxford University

2009 – 11 M.A Landscape Architecture, University of Sheffield

2011 – Ph.D. in Landscape, University of Sheffield

Social Sciences Faculty Scholarship

Biography

After twenty years teaching Geography and leading departments in London and Hertfordshire Helen started an M.A. in Landscape in 2009. During her masters course she was particularly inspired by work in ecological planting design and had the opportunity to work on trial plots within the London Olympic Park with James Hitchmough. Her dissertation focused on the manipulation of the flowering phenology of native meadow species by cutting and irrigation. The objective was to produce the most spectacular flowering display six weeks later than the norm in southern England, to correspond with the equivalent date of the Olympic opening ceremony in 2012. She later produced a report for the Olympic Delivery Authority based upon findings. She is fascinated by the challenge of producing designed planting which is both ecologically diverse and popular with the public, and this provides the focus of her Ph.D research. Helen continues to work in outdoor education, organising and assessing expeditions throughout Europe. She is a keen cross country and trail runner.

PhD Title

Human happiness and urban nature conservation –biodiversity: public perception of designed urban plantings in a warming climate.

Ph.D Supervisors:
James Hitchmough
Eckart Lange
Anna Jorgensen

PhD Background

As a geographer Helen was always acutely aware of the links between the landscape and human perception, behaviour and activity as well as the need to respond to the reality of climate change. Whilst studying for her MA in Landscape at Sheffield work in ecological and planting design illustrated the potentially positive role of the Landscape Architect in manipulating these relationships; it would be a double coup for the designer to produce a landscape that was both attractive to humans yet also offered considerable benefits in terms of urban nature conservation biodiversity. Adaptation of planting to a warming climate would produce additional benefits.

Helen’s Ph. D research aims to unravel some of the complexities of these relationships. Do people like biodiverse, layered planting and how can ‘goodness for invertebrates’ be measured? Do people appreciate non – native species in urban planting more if they understand the context of a warming climate?