Terra Park

Instructions

To play the game you just need to press "Run game".

Simply click on the screen to advance the text and choose witch option you'd like to take and see how it affects the garden.

To run the game in full screen press the for arrows in the bottom right corner and when you are ready to leave full screen just press ESC.

Concept

The game is set in the centre of London, the capital city of the UK. You, the player, are a resident of London and there is a community garden around the corner from your home.  The garden has been poorly managed for the last several years and the plants in it are also suffering from the effects of climate change, which is already being felt in London. Summers are becoming hotter and drier, with heatwaves more likely, and winters are becoming warmer and wetter. Extreme weather such as storms and heavy rainfall is also more likely.

Your goal in the game is to manage the garden and regenerate it for the benefit of the local community. This includes four main goals:

     1) Attract more people to come and spend time in the garden

     2) Make sure the garden can survive in the future, as the climate in London continues changing

     3) Ensure that all actions you take in the management of the garden are as climate friendly as possible 

     4) Educate local citizens about how the actions you are taking in the garden are climate friendly. 

 

Objectives

The objectives of this game are:

     1) To give the player a better understanding of:

          · The role of local nature-based solutions in helping to mitigate against climate change.

          · The importance of adaptation to the changing climate, and a variety of methods by which this can be achieved.

          · Co-benefits of climate positive actions, including wider environmental benefits, benefits to people’s mental and physical health and helping to reduce income inequalities.

          · Some information on climate policy in London, for example activities that are being carried out by the Mayor of London’s office.

          · The real-world impact of individual and collective action, within a local area.  

     2) To inspire the player to take meaningful climate action in their local area, through:

          · Changing the way they see and interact with green spaces in their local area.

          · Giving some practical ideas for how they could manage their own garden or window box in a climate friendly way.

          · Encouraging them to grow their own food in any space they have, thereby reducing the food miles of food they are consuming.

          · Encouraging them to cycle more frequently, as a form of transport.

          · Potentially inspiring some players to join or set up their own local community garden.

Target audience

This game is aimed at GCSE Geography students (aged 14-16) in the UK, as a classroom or homework activity. It covers a number of different topics about climate change, sustainability and inequality which are included in the GCSE Geography syllabus. 

References

Context:

Climate change and weather | London City Hall

https://www.rhs.org.uk/get-involved/community-gardening/resources/community-garden

Save the roses?

Getting the best from roses | Garden World

How to grow roses / RHS Gardening

How to grow lavender / RHS Gardening

 Bike lane?

Cars, planes, trains: where do CO₂ emissions from transport come from? - Our World in Data

Permeable Pavements Guide: Types, Benefits, Design, Maintenance (urban-water.co.uk)

Runoff (nationalgeographic.org)

Mayor's vision for cycling | London City Hall

Climate friendly gardening | The Wildlife Trusts

Mow the grass?

https://www.gardenersworld.com/news/no-mow-may-2024/

https://www.plantlife.org.uk/no-mow-may-can-your-garden-be-a-carbon-store

Start a community garden?

How food banks work - The Trussell Trust

Data insights: The cost of living crisis | London Funders

Home (foodmiles.com)

What are food miles and why are they important? - BBC Bitesize

Food desert | Causes, Effects & Solutions | Britannica

The Positive Impact Of Community Gardens On Individual And Community Health – AccessibleGardens

Strengthening communities through community gardens - Sustainable Food Center

Waiting list for allotments in England almost doubles in 12 years | Environment | The Guardian  Community Gardens: An Effective Approach to Food Equity | Institute for Health Policy Leadership (llu.edu)