The Bricks of Nature
Summary
Greening is used all throughout planning policy in the Netherlands. The meaning and definition of this action are still quite vague. In the search for a definition, this study notices the following things. First like suggested by authors such as Swyngedouw a multitude of socio-natural relations exist. In the case of the Netherlands, these relations mostly relate to the degree to which humans can be connected and involved with green space and nature. Four other areas of consideration in these socio-natural relations are identified. Allocation, Typology, Accessibility, and Management and Conservation are areas in which municipal policymakers and planner make choices in relation to the position of green space in the urban context. These four areas are used by municipalities to clarify and detail what greening means to them. However as will be concluded, on the level of general municipal policy greening will, regardless of its well-meant intentions, remains to be used as a buzzword. A notion of what it means, with differing interpretations, and used to simplify a wide range of actions and strategies taken in its name.