Publikacje

Walking is a primary physical activity that connects city inhabitants with nature, contributing to the development of healthy and sustainable cities. While green walking environments are typically associated with manicured urban parks and street greenery, other potential settings include urban wildscapes. These areas are shaped primarily by nature and offer a sense of being in nature or even the wild. This study explores whether city inhabitants are willing to walk through urban wildscapes and the factors influencing this willingness. We surveyed 524 residents of Warsaw, Poland, assessing their willingness to walk through eighteen urban wildscapes for both utility and recreational purposes. Random effects models indicated a higher willingness to walk through urban wildscapes for recreational walks compared to utility walks. City inhabitants preferred scattered greenery and grasslands for utility walks, while dense greenery and forests were favoured for recreational walks. A broader acceptance of walking through urban wildscapes could reduce the costs of maintaining urban green spaces and provide ecological benefits by preserving these areas in their ‘wild’ state. These findings contribute to discussions on social-ecological connectivity and the need to consider ‘nature of the fourth kind’ when planning green corridors that address societal and environmental needs.