Abstract

In this study, the use of Twitter as a potential method to capture unsolicited views of urban green spaces was explored. Tweets were content analysed using attention restoration theory (Kaplan & Kaplan, 1989) as the framework. Tweets about three city-centre urban green spaces in northern England were analysed for four attention restoration characteristics: being away, fascination, compatibility, and extent. Of 5,624 Tweets matching search parameters, approximately 10% were suitable for analysis after re-Tweets, advertising and event-related matches were eliminated. Tweets most often referred to fascination or compatibility. Fewer than 5% of Tweets referred to being away and none referred to extent. Tweets associated with more biodiverse locations were also more fascinating. The thematic content in unsolicited Tweets about urban green space was consistent with characteristics central to attention restoration theory, reinforcing the positive potential of urban green spaces for attention restoration and Twitter as a potential data source.